Cardinals pre-training camp mailbag: What is Arizona’s 2026 ceiling?

Arizona Cardinals training camp is nearly here!

So why not dive into the Cardinals Corner mailbag and answer some pressing questions with players reporting this week?

Shoutout to everyone who participated across multiple platforms.

Cardinals training camp mailbag

Are the Cardinals a playoff team this year, and what type of record do you see them having? – Jeff B.

Sporting one of the toughest schedules, a defense that saw minimal additions and still dealing with injuries, a first-year head coach and a murky quarterback situation, Arizona is not a playoff team in 2026.

And that’s before acknowledging the Cardinals reside in the toughest division in football.

There are too many variables working against them. This is not going to be a Chicago Bears- or New England Patriots-type turnaround in 2026.

Anything over five wins would be surprising.

Can the Cardinals compete against the stacked NFC West and what would be a reasonable goal for the season? – Matt C.

While I think the offense takes a step forward under LaFleur, Arizona is still well behind the rest of the division.

Since 2023, the Cardinals are 3-15 with a pair of 0-6 records sandwiching a 3-3 mark.

You have to go back to 2016 for the last time Arizona was over .500 against the division. That’s five coaching staffs ago!

A reasonable goal this year is to get one win against the division that isn’t a throwaway game for a playoff-bound opponent. But even that feels like a stretch.

Does Darius Robinson finally turn the corner and become the force we believed we drafted? – RJ

Consistency is going to be key for Robinson this year. He has flashed here and there but has never really asserted himself as a problem for opposing offenses.

 

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The feeling around Walter Nolen III is that he’s going to be a game-wrecker when healthy and a vital part of the starting lineup. In the small sample size last year, that was already on display.

That’s just not the case for Robinson, who is trending more toward a rotational piece that can fill in across the line depending on matchup.

He can still make an impact, but not to the level of his first-round price tag.

Given his current trajectory, Arizona picking up his fifth-year option seems unlikely.

Has the quarterback position been decided yet? – Diane G.

While Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro reported earlier this offseason that the Cardinals were planning for quarterback Jacoby Brissett to be the Week 1 starter, he’s still without a new deal with camp just about here.

A hold-in, which was already on display during minicamp, is expected.

As for a new deal? That’s another story.

And at this point, why even bite if you are the Cardinals? Let Gardner Minshew II and Carson Beck battle it out for the job and move on. Beck should be in the starting lineup midway through the season if not before anyway.

The Brissett contract saga has gone on long enough and it doesn’t appear either side is budging.

The veteran journeyman has plenty of supporters in the locker room, but there’s a point where it’s just time to cut bait.

Who are some sleeper players on offense and defense that nobody is talking about? – Bryan A.

Given the potential for even more three-tight end sets under LaFleur, plus the tight end’s continued upward trajectory, I think Elijah Higgins could be trending toward a career year.

He set new highs in catches (30) and yards (301) last year and could see even more chances in the new-look Cardinals offense.

I also think Kendrick Bourne could be a sneaky upside guy out of the slot. He’s got an already established relationship with LaFleur and should be an upgrade at the position.

Defensively, I am looking at pass rushers BJ Ojulari and Jordan Burch. I think one of the two can emerge as Arizona’s No. 2 option opposite Josh Sweat. Burch is a specimen heading into Year 2, while Ojulari has the traits to be one of the team’s purest pass-rushing threats.

From a specialist standpoint, keep an eye out for running back Bam Knight. Arizona needs a second return man to go alongside Devin Duvernay. Knight could carve out a role there, while also providing depth in the running backs room.

What’s the ceiling for this team? – Blake M.

Seven wins with a playoff-picture mention at some point in the season.

I have my doubts about the defense, which did not get any upgrades and watched Calais Campbell walk out the door in free agency, but think the offense can make some serious strides under LaFleur.

Can it pick up all the slack the defense is going to leave behind? No, but it can become Arizona’s strong suit and lead to more wins.

What’s the floor for the 2026 Cardinals? – Ryan C.

0-17 with a fired general manager and one-and-done head coach. There is a chance this thing gets really sideways, especially with an 11-week gauntlet to start the year.

How many games will Carson Beck start? – K2

Unless the Cardinals shock the football world with a one-year turnaround (see above), anything less than 10 starts would be a major failure on Arizona’s part.

The franchise has to see if Beck can be the long-term answer and going off a handful of games would be an incomplete grade.

Somewhere around Week 8 seems like a good spot. Give the team six or seven weeks to see if it’s competitive and then turn it over to the rookie.

Who will be our CB2? – K2

Arizona’s cornerback room has become one of the deeper positions on the roster.

Will Johnson looks the part as an up-and-coming CB1. Garrett Williams when healthy is the go-to guy at nickel (and just about everywhere the team needs him). With him still sidelined due to his torn Achilles last year, Sean Murphy-Bunting slides into that role.

That leaves a group of Starling Thomas V, Denzel Burke and Max Melton as CB2 candidates.

Thomas presented a potential starting option last camp before a torn ACL ruined his season. Melton has 11 starts across the past two seasons but appeared to fall out of favor with the coaching staff last year.

Burke, meanwhile, is coming off team highs in interceptions (three) and pass defensed (11). He might be one of the most underrated players on this roster and should get first crack at securing that CB2 role.

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