ESPN’s best bet for Cardinals not exactly a ringing endorsement

With a projected win total of 4.5 games in 2026, expectations are low for the Arizona Cardinals in head coach Mike LaFleur’s first year on the job.

On top of roster questions, particularly at pass rusher and right tackle, Arizona also sports one of the toughest schedules in the league despite a last-place finish and plays in one of the hardest divisions that got much more difficult with the Los Angeles Rams’ trade for Myles Garrett on Monday.

Because of those factors, ESPN’s Pamela Maldonado has the Cardinals winning fewer than five games as one of the best bets in the league for 2026.

Cardinals UNDER 4.5 wins (-150)

Drafting Jeremiyah Love at No. 3 signals a full reset, but a rookie running back doesn’t fix a roster with major flaws that finished 3-14 and ranked near the bottom in rushing, offensive consistency and defensive metrics. Love can help an offense in desperate need of explosiveness, but it’s still a rebuilding team.

The road map doesn’t look too kind for the Cardinals in 2026, with Arizona opening the year against seven playoff teams from a season ago across the first 10 weeks. The ones that didn’t make it to the playoffs last year? The New York Giants, Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys. At least two of those teams are expected to make a jump.

The schedule lightens up near the end of the year, but still includes the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers.

There’s also the big question mark surrounding the Cardinals’ quarterback situation.

Jacoby Brissett remains away from the team amid a request for starter-level pay, while newcomer Gardner Minshew continues to lead the quarterbacks room. Carson Beck, meanwhile, is waiting in the wings for when his name is called sooner rather than later.

Another bet to watch for the Cardinals in 2026

In addition to taking the under on Arizona’s win total, Maldonado has the under in point total for the Cardinals’ Week 1 game against the Los Angeles Chargers as another top futures bet to make this year.

Cardinals at Chargers UNDER 45.5 points in Week 1 (-110)

Arizona’s offseason points toward a more conservative game plan, with uncertainty surrounding quarterback Jacoby Brissett’s contract plus the expected heavy use of Love. The matchup itself favors low scoring. The Chargers were in the top 10 against the run and allowed the second-fewest red zone touchdowns last season. Quarterback questions and a run game hitting a brick wall mean field goals at best keep this under the total.

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