The 2026 NFL Draft is in the rear-view mirror and NFL writers are now looking toward the start of the 2026-27 NFL regular season.
What are their thoughts on the Arizona Cardinals and the team's potential in the first season under coach Mike LaFleur?
Check out where they rank the Cardinals after the NFL draft, with most writers not very high on Arizona's chances.
In fact, several rank Arizona No. 32 in their most recent NFL power rankings. You can't get lower than that.
Are the Cardinals really the worst team in the NFL right now? NFL writers explain their ranking for Arizona in post-NFL draft NFL power rankings.
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Nate Davis writes: "Have they taken the lead in the Arch Manning sweepstakes, or for whoever emerges as the leading light of the highly anticipated 2027 draft? A somewhat bizarre draft, though highlighted by luminary RB Jeremiyah Love, in combination with the crushing weight of NFC West competition could very well translate to a 2-15 season."
Pete Prisco writes: "Will third-round pick Carson Beck play this year? He should. We need to find out what he has to see if they need to take a quarterback next year."
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Brent Sobleski writes: "Arizona still has a long way to go. The Cardinals' roster easily places them in the conversation as the league's worst team. Mike LaFleur comes in as head coach, and he'll have some time to build the team in his image. The problem starts at quarterback, though. Jacoby Brissett is a bridge option at best. No one should rely on recent third-round pick Carson Beck to emerge as a franchise option. Some legitimate talent can be found on this roster and the Cards will likely lean heavily on this year's fourth overall pick, Jeremiyah Love, to define the team's identity. Still, far more is needed to make the team legitimately competitive."
Eric Edholm writes: "The Cardinals made a call on Jeremiyah Love at No. 3, and I respect the player and the opportunity. I also am not one of these guys who will harp on the "diminished value" of running backs, because I believe the position is more important now than it was a few years ago, with the run game cycling back into the league again. From a market-efficiency standpoint, though, it's not the smartest move, even without a high-priced QB on the roster, and I just worry that Love's rookie year could end up looking like what we just saw with Ashton Jeanty in Vegas. My hope is that Mike LaFleur can start to mold an identity with this offense, pump some life into Marvin Harrison Jr. and upgrade the QB play. Love can help with that process, and maybe Carson Beck is a surprise option at quarterback, but it's hard to be overly optimistic for any quick fixes right now."
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It writes: "While the Cardinals' roster got sexier on paper, it's hard to say if they made the right decisions for their future. Jeremiyah Love will be a great football player, but the franchise passed up an opportunity to grab a high-end talent at a premium position with the No. 3 pick. That's without even considering that Arizona's running back depth chart already featured Tyler Allgeier and James Conner. Carson Beck is also at risk of becoming a wasted pick as the Cardinals position themselves to draft a top quarterback next year."
Steve Serby writes: "It’ll be fun watching Jeremiyah Love run the ball, not so much fun watching Jacoby Brissett and/or Carson Beck pass it."
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Ralph Vacchiano writes: "Some believe RB Jeremiyah Love will be the best player out of this draft, but how much is he really going to help a team with so many issues — particularly along the offensive line? The Cardinals are still the favorite to get the first pick of the 2027 draft."
Daniel Kelley writes: "The Cardinals running it back with Jacoby Brissett (backed up by Gardner Minshew) screams 'Setting up for a 2027 draft pick.' But going out of their way to sign Tyler Allgeier and Kendrick Bourne goes against that. They aren’t great, but they are better than you’d expect a quasi-tanking team to go for."
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Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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