Cold or gold? Which bold Cardinals predictions actually make sense?

TEMPE — Bold predictions are the norm at the start of any season, especially for the Arizona Cardinals and the rest of the NFL.

But which ones actually have a realistic chance at happening? And which ones are out in space?

A look at some of the gold and cold predictions for the Cardinals in 2026:

Jeremiyah Love exceeds 1,500 scrimmage yards as a rookie

Bijan Robinson came close. Jahmyr Gibbs wasn’t that far off, but neither were able to top 1,500 scrimmage yards as a rookie.

How close will fellow first-round pick Jeremiyah Love come to that threshold?

With the rookie back practicing on Wednesday, all signs point to him making his NFL debut this weekend against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Avoiding any missed time is key if Love wants to accomplish the feat.

But even if he is good to go all season, it’s tough to imagine Love hitting that mark given who else is on the roster.

Tyler Allgeier was signed as Arizona’s RB1 before Love got to town. The rookie is the future of Arizona’s backfield, but that doesn’t take away from Allgeier’s expected impact as a proven veteran.

Head coach Mike LaFleur isn’t one to wear running backs down, either. Keeping guys fresh is key to his overall operation.

I think Love comes close to the total thanks to his expected usage in the receiving game but comes up just short.

And no, that’s not a knock on the running back’s abilities.

Verdict: Cold

Michael Wilson paces Cardinals pass catchers in receptions and yards

Tight end Trey McBride was far and away the top offensive threat in Arizona last year.

So why on earth is anyone talking about a player other than him leading the way once more in 2026?

It’s simple. Michael Wilson.

 

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After breaking out last year with his first 1,000-yard season while flexing his WR1 potential, Wilson is hungrier for more in Year 4.

And given how he’s expected to be used in the offense, there’s a real chance Wilson is the guy leading multiple statistical categories for this team.

LaFleur wasn’t lying when he compared Wilson’s role to Los Angeles Rams star Puka Nacua.

Throughout training camp, the preseason and open portions of practice, Wilson is doing just about everything for the offense. That includes carrying the rock, too.

With LaFleur operating as the Rams’ offensive coordinator from 2023-25, Nacua led the team in both catches and receiving yards.

It’s not far-fetched to think Wilson can’t do the same.

Verdict: Gold

Carson Beck doesn’t start in Year 1

Regardless of what you think about the quarterback situation, Arizona’s offense has too many playmakers not to make more noise this year.

And if it does at a consistent enough clip and the offense isn’t the reason this team is losing games, Jacoby Brissett is going to get plenty of run as the starter.

The trust is certainly there after Brissett was named a captain by his peers this week. His continually evolving relationship with LaFleur and their (many) back-and-forths over the phone show a coach and quarterback walking in lockstep.

Could this team sport a top-15 offense by the end of the year? Yes.

That doesn’t take away from where Arizona stands in the franchise quarterback department, though.

Not seeing a healthy sample size out of rookie signal-caller Carson Beck won’t help the Cardinals in their search for a long-term answer.

Getting double-digit games (or close to it) under his belt would be the best-case scenario for his growth.

But even if that isn’t the case, by the time Arizona’s Week 14 bye rolls around, Beck should either be preparing for his first start or already have it under his belt.

Verdict: Cold

Walter Nolen III is Arizona’s top sack getter in 2026

Yes, Josh Sweat is still on the team as I write this.

Will that be the case once the trade deadline passes? That’s up for debate. And beyond him, the drop off in Arizona’s pass-rushing department is a cliff.

Either way, Walter Nolen III looks ready for that Year 2 leap and could very well be the guy at the top of the stat sheet by year’s end.

He wasted no time getting after the quarterback with a pair of sacks in his six games as a rookie.

And given how much better shape he’s in and the fact that he’s fully healthy, only add to the thinking that Nolen could be that game wrecker everyone saw glimpses of last year.

Staying upright is the biggest part of the equation in making this prediction become a reality.

Verdict: Gold

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