While the summer season brings much enjoyment to the average person, for an NFL fan, it represents a desolate wasteland where Sundays just aren't quite as vibrant as in the autumn months. However, with each passing day, we inch closer to the beginning of the 2023 NFL season, which officially kicks off on September 7 this year. Whether you've had your favorite team's tweet notifications turned on all summer or if you've decided to tune out all football news entirely, you'll be able to learn everything you need to know about your team going into the 2023-24 season right here. In today's article, I'll be discussing the Arizona Cardinals. I wrote a guidebook for every team in the NFL heading into the 2023 season. To check out an article for another team, click the link below: https://www.bucketsquadsportsreports.com/nfl 2022 Season Recap After going 11-6 and making the playoffs in 2021, the Cardinals took major step back in 2022 en route to a division worst 4-13 record. Injuries to their star players plagued their season, and Kyler Murray missed the final six games. Arizona allowed the 2nd most points of anyone in 2022 and were particularly bad against the pass. The offense was decent when they were at full strength but tanked after Kyler was injured. The disappointing season led to the Cardinals parting ways with coach Kliff Kingsbury, prompting a rebuild in Arizona. Significant Roster Moves The Cardinals lost JJ Watt to retirement and released DeAndre Hopkins in the offseason, but those are just most notable of the list of players from 2022’s team who won’t be returning for 2023. You’ll notice several offensive linemen and linebackers and a few defensive backs on the list of departures as the Cardinals attempt a bit of a restart with a new head coach. They also traded freakish athlete Isaiah Simmons to the Giants in late August. The most notable additions to the roster will be LB Kyzir White and offensive linemen Hjalte Froholdt and Elijah Wilkinson. Rashad Fenton will also be good at corner when he’s healthy, but was placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury following their first preseason game. The Cardinals traded a 5th round pick for veteran backup QB Joshua Dobbs in late August and he may be the starter for at least the first four weeks of the season after Arizona released Colt McCoy and placed Kyler Murray on the PUP. 2023 Draft Class The Cardinals had nine picks in the 2023 draft and used their 6th overall pick on tackle Paris Johnson from Ohio State. He will start immediately at right tackle. 2nd rounder BJ Ojulari will also be a day one starter at linebacker, while the remainder of the picks will begin their careers as backups. Receiver Michael Wilson will see a good amount of action early and Clayton Tune may see some action this season with the Cardinals being thin at quarterback. Season Schedule The Cardinals will take on the NFC East and the AFC North in 2023 to go along with their six divisional games. Their other three opponents are the Atlanta Falcons, Houston Texans, and Chicago Bears. With an opponent prior season win percentage of .519, Arizona has the 11th hardest schedule in the NFL. Arizona is one of four teams with no primetime games on the schedule. Depth Charts Offense Defense Special Teams The Cardinals return 15 of their 22 offensive and defensive starters from last year. Expectations are low for the team in Jonathan Gannon’s first season, especially after releasing veteran QB Colt McCoy heading into the season. With Kyler Murray expected to be unavailable for at least the first four weeks due to the injury he suffered last year, Josh Dobbs is the anticipated starter for the first few games. Dobbs was only acquired about a week before this writing, but he has experience in the new offensive coordinator’s scheme. Coaching Staff Arizona hired Jonathan Gannon to replace Kliff Kingsbury as the 43rd Head Coach in franchise history. He retained just one coordinator from the prior regime: Special Teams Coordinator Jeff Rodgers (6th season). The Cardinals hired Drew Petzing and Nick Rallis to serve as Offensive Coordinator and Defensive Coordinator, respectively. OC Petzing spent the previous three seasons in Cleveland, and was Quarterbacks Coach in his final season there. DC Rallis served as Linebackers Coach for the Eagles for two seasons before leaving with Gannon to join Arizona’s staff. Betting Odds Oddsmakers have set the regular season win total for Arizona at 3.5 games. As of right now, the Cardinals are the least likely team to win both the NFC West and the NFC as a whole. At +40000 to win Super Bowl LVIII, they are also last in that aspect. Bucket Squad Predictions Bucket Squad Sports Reports predicts the Cardinals to finish 2-15 in 2023 for the worst record in the NFL. As a result, they’ll finish last in their division and conference and be lined up for the first overall pick in the 2024 draft.
What do you think? Will Arizona be better or worse than I'm projecting? What offseason moves made by the Cardinals surprised you the most? Leave a comment down below and be sure to check the "NFL" section of the website for more NFL team guidebooks as I finish them. Written by Nick Swatson
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