Cardinals’ young talent ranks middle of NFL in ESPN data breakdown

The Arizona Cardinals are missing a clear direction entering 2026 in large part because they don’t have a firm answer at quarterback.

However, that’s not to say there’s a big absence of young talent on the roster. An ESPN breakdown has Arizona’s breadth of prospects at No. 19 across the NFL, well ahead of where just about every record projection would place them.

The ESPN deep dive combined elements such as number of snaps and starts, contract statuses, relative importance of position (i.e. a quarterback mattering more than a running back), quality of play and more to determine which teams had the best collections of under-25 talent (ages as of Sept. 1).

Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and running back Jeremiyah Love were identified by ESPN’s Aaron Schatz as the “blue chips” on the roster, helped in the data by their respective draft positions of Nos. 4 and 3.

Love has a fellow position mate who’s still in the breakdown, as Trey Benson will turn 24 years old on Thursday.

Carson Beck and Chase Bisontis are the other big pieces with youth, both being potential starters at one point or another this season.

Defense is where the promising youth is most abundant, especially with 22-year-old Walter Nolen III and 23-year-old defensive backs Will Johnson and Denzel Burke. Others like Darius Robinson, BJ Ojulari and Cody Simon are all 24.

Arizona also had the No. 19 slot a year ago, before Paris Johnson Jr. and Garrett Williams aged out of the rankings.

Arizona’s prospect talent ranked ahead of the San Francisco 49ers (No. 27) and Los Angeles Rams (No. 32), but behind the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks (No. 8).

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