Every season for the past three years, The Athletic has been able to poll a number of NFL executives and other prominent decision-makers, under the condition of anonymity, on a number of pressing questions for the upcoming season. This year is no exception, and The Athletic was able to speak to 27 coaches and executives this year to get their thoughts on several topics around the 2024 season.
One of the questions asked of them was about who they thought would surprise, in a good way, this season, and the top team in the poll was the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona came away with seven of the 21 total votes – with six people abstaining from the vote – giving the impression that expectations are high around the league for the Cardinals.
Arizona has been mired in mediocrity the past few seasons, largely due to a lack of talent on both sides of the ball. Their coaching staff has done a good job to get the most out of the hand they’ve been dealt, but it’s been a struggle. Still, the coaching staff has earned praise around the league, particularly their offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, with one NFL head coach saying: “I’ve got a feeling (quarterback) Kyler (Murray) is going to have a bounce-back year… I really like their offensive coordinator. I like the scheme they run.”
Now, with the Cardinals adding a legitimate number one receiver in the 2024 NFL Draft with Marvin Harrison, Jr., it seems like the expectation is that the team’s offensive woes should be in the past and they can make some waves in the upcoming season. It may be hard for them, though, as the deck is stacked against them in the NFC West, competing with perennial Super Bowl-contender San Francisco. Still, the Cardinals could be in a great position to compete with the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams for second-place in the division and a potential Wild Card berth.
One area that could be a thorn in the Cardinals side this season is the talent – or lack thereof – on the defensive side of the ball, particularly when it comes to their ability to rush the passer. They’ve been urged by several NFL analysts to add to their edge rush room, but have yet to do so. That lack of ability to get to the quarterback could be the team’s downfall this season, in an otherwise promising 2024.