2025 Arizona Cardinals Projected Finish, Key Signings & Fantasy Stars

Trey McBride (Google Images)

In the first of a 32-part series, we are featuring all National Football League teams with a prediction of where each team will finish within their division, key off-season acquisitions and their top fantasy stars. Here are the Arizona Cardinals.

Key Off-Season Acquisitions

The Cardinals made five key off season acquisitions to their roster in the offseason. They were defensive end Josh Sweat of Chesapeake, Virginia, defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlimson of McDonough, Georgia, quarterback Jacoby Brissett of West Palm Beach, Florida, defensive end Calais Campbell of Denver, Colorado, and linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither of Thomasville, North Carolina.

Sweat signed a four-year deal worth $76.4 million with the Arizona Cardinals. He has spent the last seven seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles since 2018, was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2021, and won a Super Bowl in 2024. In 2025, Sweat had 41 combined tackles (27 solo tackles and 14 assisted tackles), nine tackles for a loss, 15 quarterback hits, eight sacks and two pass deflections. The pass deflections came in a 28-3 Eagles win over the New York Giants on October 20 and in a 28-23 Eagles win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 3.

Tomlinson signed a two-year deal worth $29 million with the Arizona Cardinals. Tomlinson is joining his fourth NFL franchise as he was previously with the New York Giants from 2017 to 2020, the Minnesota Vikings in 2021 and 2022, and the Cleveland Browns in 2023 and 2024. This past season with the Browns, Tomlinson had 26 combined tackles (13 solo tackles and 13 assisted tackles), six tackles for a loss, 18 quarterback hits, and three sacks.

Brissett is giving the Cardinals a solid backup option at quarterback to Kyler Murray after signing a two-year deal worth $12.5 million on March 14. He is joining his sixth NFL franchise after two seasons with the New England Patriots (2016 and 2024), four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts (2017 to 2020), and one season each with the Miami Dolphins (2021), Cleveland Browns (2022), and Washington Commanders (2023). Last season in New England, Brissett completed 95 passes in 161 attempts for 826 passing yards and two passing touchdowns and one interception. He had 15 rushes for 62 rushing yards.

Davis-Gaither has played the last five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. He signed a two-year deal worth $10 million on March 13. This past season for the Bengals, Davis-Gaither had 82 combined tackles (41 solo tackles and 41 assisted tackles), four tackles for a loss, one quarterback hit, one interception for 12 yards, four pass deflections, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. The forced fumble came in a 30-24 Bengals overtime win over the Denver Broncos on December 28, and the fumble recovery came in a 19-17 Bengals win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on January 4.

Fantasy Stars

It was another excellent season at tight end for Trey McBride of Greeley, Colorado. He was ranked the third best tight end in the NFL only behind George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers and Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders. McBride had 111 catches for 1146 receiving yards and two touchdowns last season.

It was also a bounce back season for quarterback Kyler Murray of Bedford, Texas. who was significantly better in 2024 than 2023. This past season, Murray completed 372 passes in 541 attempts for 3851 passing yards, and 21 passing touchdowns, to go along with 11 interceptions. Murray also had 78 rushes for 572 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. Murray is ranked 10th among quarterbacks.

Giveaway Bonus Entries Code: 1015

Also ranked 10th at his position is running back James Conner of Erie, Pennsylvania. Last season, Conner had 236 rushes for 1094 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns, along with 47 catches for 414 receiving yards and one touchdown catch.

Projected Finish

The Cardinals were expected to be in the basement last year but finished in third in the NFC West after the San Francisco 49ers were loaded with injuries. If Murray continues to progress at the same rate he did last year, a return to the playoffs for the Cardinals is not out of the question. In a 17 game schedule, Arizona could be in the 9-10 win mark, but a record of 8-9 seem more realistic. Arizona still has room to grow but I like them for third place in the division for the second straight year.