It was another disappointing season in the NFL for the Arizona Cardinals. With just four wins from their 17 matches, the stretch for a playoff game continues. The Cardinals, who began the season with new jerseys for the first time since 2005, finished bottom of the NFC West standings for the second straight year.
Preparations will already be underway for the 2024/25 NFL season and here is a look at where the Cardinals need to improve if they are to get back into the playoffs.
First-Round Draft Picks Should Help
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>See you in Detroit on April 25th <a href=”https://t.co/ayDBk5Pgwb”>pic.twitter.com/ayDBk5Pgwb</a></p>— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) <a href=”https://twitter.com/AZCardinals/status/1744390756398514577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>January 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
With the fourth-worst record in the NFL last season, the Cardinals will get the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. They sit behind the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders, and New England Patriots respectively on the draft board, just one place lower than they were in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The three teams above the Cardinals are all in need of a quarterback, so it means Arizona may get the chance to pick the best non-QB available for selection. There are some talented wide receivers eligible this year, so they have the opportunity to provide quarterback Kyler Murray with a weapon. Speaking of opportunities, just like Murray’s chance to bolster his offense, you can explore exciting opportunities at Kasynohex for a top-notch online casino gaming experience.
Arizona is one of just two teams that will get multiple picks in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. They did a deal with the Houston Texans in 2023 that saw the Cardinals snap up their first-round selection. Unfortunately for Arizona, the Texans had a good season in 2023 so they are 27th overall on the board. The Cardinals may use this selection to take a defensive player, with a cornerback high up on the wish list.
Kyler Murray Likely to Be Available from Week One
Cardinals fans will be hoping to see franchise quarterback Kyler Murray available from week one next season. That was not the case in 2023, as he was on the PUP list at the start of the campaign. He did not suit up for his opening game of the season until November.
Arizona’s performances improved when Murray was back in the team. He won three of the eight games he started last season. His best performance came against the Philadelphia Eagles in week 17. The Cardinals trailed by 15 points at half-time, but Murray threw three touchdown passes in the second half to help his side to a 35-31 success.
Next season will be Murray’s sixth season in the NFL. The 26-year-old has lots of experience and if he stays fit, he is good enough to put himself in the mix for the regular season MVP Award, along with 49ers QB Brock Purdy and Ravens’ Lamar Jackson.
Head Coach Now Has His Feet Under the Desk
Jonathan Gannon was appointed as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in February 2023, and he has now undergone his first season in the position. Gannon will have learned a lot from his first year as a head coach in the NFL, and hopefully, that will stand him in good stead in 2024.
There are likely to be a lot of roster changes before September, as Gannon is aware they need improvements in offense, defense, and special teams if they are to improve on their winning tally next season.
There will be more pressure on Gannon’s shoulders in his second season at Arizona as the franchise will want to see progression. The former Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator is highly regarded by many pundits in the sport, and he will be hoping to prove why the Cardinals saw him as the best fit to replace Kliff Kingsbury.
The 49ers Are the Team to Beat in the NFC West
As they have been for the last few seasons, the San Francisco 49ers remain the team to beat in the NFC West. As of January 22, the 49ers are the +175 favorites in the NFL odds to win the Super Bowl this season.
In their two games against the 49ers this season, Arizona lost 35-16 and 45-29. If they are to win the divisional title in the next campaign, results against their rivals will need to improve.
The Cardinals are unfortunate to be in one of the strongest divisions in the NFL at the moment. Recent Super Bowl champions LA Rams also had an excellent season in the 2023/24 campaign and should come back stronger when the league returns.
Arizona will discover their week one opponent for the 2024/25 NFL season in late April. Their opening game comes on September 8, unless selected for one of the prime-time slots.
