Ranking all 32 NFL rosters from worst to best for 2022
NFL roster no. 22: Arizona Cardinals
32. . . . Arizona Cardinals. 22. team
The Arizona Cardinals had one of the best records in the NFL last season, but they have a borderline bottom-10 roster?
What is this about?
Let’s take a look.
Kyler Murray is obviously a foundational piece for this team. They need to extend him, but he’s a cornerstone piece.
DeAndre Hopkins is suspended, but he’ll be back eventually, and he’s joined in a strong receiver group by AJ Green, newcomer Hollywood Brown, and second-year player Rondale Moore.
Zach Ertz and Trey McBride give the Cardinals a strong presence at tight end, and the overall skill position talent in Arizona is very good.
The offensive line is solid, and the Arizona offense as a whole undoubtedly bumps this roster up quite a bit.
The issues are on the defensive side of the ball.
The Cardinals lost their best pass rusher in Chandler Jones, who signed with the Raiders in free agency.
I think this team has higher hopes for JJ Watt than perhaps he’s capable of delivering at this point. He played just seven games last season and is 33 this year.
The overall depth in the secondary and even the starting lineup is just not very good right now for Arizona.
The defense of this team could hold their championship hopes back. I think in terms of the roster construction, you’ve got a team that is ready to win some shootouts in the Wild Wild NFC West, but their title contention hopes are diminished substantially by the overall construction of the defense.