ARIZONA CARDINALS

ESPN puts Cardinals at No. 12 in post free agency NFL power rankings

Mar 30, 2021, 8:24 AM | Updated: 10:14 am
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) runs for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills durin...

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) runs for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

The start of the 2021 NFL regular season is over five months away.

But that won’t stop anybody from making predictions based purely on personnel and coaching changes prior to the draft.

ESPN on Monday released their updated power rankings, which saw the Arizona Cardinals bump up two spots to No. 12.

Despite big free agency signings like J.J. Watt and A.J. Green, the addition of veteran kicker Matt Prater was dubbed the team’s best offseason move in 2021.

The Cardinals were a win away from making the playoffs last season and happened to lose two games because of missed field goals. Just one of those would’ve put Arizona in the postseason. The Cardinals didn’t re-sign Zane Gonzalez, instead opting for the 36-year-old Prater, who’s one of the best kickers in NFL history. Giving themselves that kind of talent at kicker could end up being the difference between going to the playoffs or missing them for the sixth straight season.

The Cardinals won’t have to look too far to see where their NFC West counterparts ranked on the list.

That’s because the entire division found itself in the top 13, with the Los Angeles Rams at No. 6 and the Seattle Seahawks at No. 9 being the only two teams ahead of Arizona. Both the Rams and Seahawks dropped by one spot on the list.

The San Francisco 49ers were ranked 13th and saw the biggest drop after previously being No. 9.

No changes were made to the top four teams — a repeat of last year’s conference championship games — but the order had a slight tweak.

The Kansas City Chiefs remain atop the chart, while the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers moved up to No. 2.

The Green Bay Packers at No. 3 and Buffalo Bills at No. 4 rounded out the remainder of the top four.

The adjustment to the list comes prior to the 2021 NFL Draft, which will take place from April 29 to May 1.

Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals' owner Michael Bidwill, left, new head coach Jonathan Gannon center, and general ...
Tyler Drake

NFL dates to remember and how they relate to the Cardinals

As Arizona's new regime gets to work on rebuilding the organization, a look at the key dates of the offseason to circle on the calendar.
18 hours ago
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Zach Pascal (3) warms up during Super Bowl LVII between the Kansa...
Wills Rice

New Cardinals WR Zach Pascal hungry to take whatever role necessary with team

New Cardinals WR Zach Pascal reunites with Jonathan Gannon for the third time and is ready for whatever role he's needed to play in 2023.
18 hours ago
Josh Woods #51 of the Detroit Lions celebrates during the second half against the New York Jets at ...
Tyler Drake

Arizona Cardinals agree to terms with LB Josh Woods on 1-year deal

The Arizona Cardinals and former Detroit Lions linebacker Josh Woods agreed to terms on a one-year deal, the team announced Thursday.
2 days ago
Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Arizona Cardinals catches the game-winning touchdown pass ...
Arizona Sports

Report: Bills headlining Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins’ trade market

The Buffalo Bills are looking into a potential DeAndre Hopkins trade with the Arizona Cardinals, per report.
2 days ago
Alabama's Will Anderson Jr.(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)...
Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ mock draft scenarios: Arizona keeps the No. 3 pick

Trade the third overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft or keep it? That's the question Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort will answer soon enough.
18 hours ago
Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Arizona Cardinals lines up during the NFL game against the...
Arizona Sports

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell sees logical landing spot for Cardinals’ DeAndre Hopkins

The trade speculation surrounding Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins rolls on with each passing day of the offseason.
3 days ago
ESPN puts Cardinals at No. 12 in post free agency NFL power rankings