The Arizona Cardinals’ season is taking shape as many expected. A measly 2-5 start leaves Arizona sitting at the bottom of the NFC West. Entering 2026, Arizona had the toughest schedule, but their dysfunctional performances have left fans with no hope.
Arizona must love playing against the city of Los Angeles. The Cardinals secured an upset win over the Los Angeles Rams, but their only other win was against the disappointing 0-6 Los Angeles Chargers. Their losses, however, have been extremely lackluster performances on both sides of the ball.
The Cardinals give up an average of 35.6 points per loss. Allowing nearly 36 points per game when you lose is a recipe for absolutely zero success. The Cardinals recently lost to the Denver Broncos at home, 30-16.
The defense has been one of the worst in the NFL, and the offense has been below average, too. The run game has been inconsistent, and the pass game has been mediocre. Something must change if Arizona wants to exceed expectations now and in the near future.
Welcome to the Trade Deadline
In a situation like the Cardinals’, the trade deadline should be busy. Arizona has to sell at this deadline, as the team needs more draft capital and younger players overall.
The first move is to trade Josh Sweat. He’s already been lackluster this season, securing just two sacks in seven games off the edge. He’s 29, so he doesn’t fit the Cardinals’ timeline. His contract is somewhat hefty, but Arizona can certainly find a suitor for Sweat.
Another trade Arizona should consider: trading fan favorite Budda Baker. Yes, that would upset many fans, but Arizona is wasting a player of Baker’s caliber. He’s been phenomenal this season, recording 3.5 sacks, multiple pass deflections, and an interception. Despite that, he’s 30, and Arizona would get a valuable asset in return for Baker.
Arizona needs draft capital right now, and they already got a solid return after trading Marvin Harrison Jr. for a second-round pick. The Cardinals need more of that, and they have valuable assets to move.
Fire Nick Rallis
The Cardinals’ defense has been one of the worst in the NFL. That’s a fact, and it’s clear in every game. The film and stats back it up.
They have the fourth-worst EPA defensively (0.08). They’ve given up the most passing touchdowns in seven weeks (17). They also rank dead last in allowed yards per game (354.3). These are just a few of the embarrassing stats Arizona’s defense has come up with.
The defense needs adjusting, as giving up all these 30-point games isn’t going to cut it. Defensive coordinator Nick Rallis has served as the Cardinals’ defensive playcaller since 2023. In nearly four years as defensive coordinator, Arizona has consistently ranked near the bottom of the NFL in major categories.
To highlight a few notable rankings: 31st in allowed points per game (26.8) in 2023, 29th in allowed points per game (28.7) in 2025, 24th in allowed points per game (29.7) this season, 32nd in allowed rush yards in 2023, along with other categories floating in the 20s throughout his four seasons.
Rallis was hired when Jonathan Gannon was head coach, but now, with Mike Lafleur at the helm, Rallis clearly doesn’t mesh with the current scheme. The team should’ve brought in a new defensive coordinator before the season started. Now, it’s clear a change is needed. It’s clear from their first seven games.
Start Carson Beck
Yes, the defense has struggled tremendously, but the offense hasn’t been great either. Jacoby Brissett specifically has been very mediocre after signing a new one-year deal.
Brissett has attempted more passes than any quarterback this season (283 attempts). Brissett isn’t even top 10 in yards (14th), has a 10-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and ranks 25th in passer rating (82.8).
None of this is great, and his red-zone passing has been abysmal. The Cardinals’ passing offense has the 3rd-worst red-zone EPA (-0.25).
Now’s the right time to put in Carson Beck. He’s currently dealing with a back injury, but Mike Lafluer said Beck will go through a workout this week to see how his back feels. The hope is that he’ll be back at practice after the evaluation.
The 3rd-round pick played well in the preseason. He was 15/19 (78.9%) for 188 yards and a touchdown in the limited action he had against Carolina in August. Given that he’s a 24-year-old rookie and gained a lot of playing experience in college, it’d be best to put Beck in sooner rather than later. He would give the offense a jolt and excite fans.
Embrace the Expectation
Arizona’s team has been disappointing all season, aside from their wins in Los Angeles. Their expectations were egregious, but the Cardinals are meeting them. Now it’s time for Arizona’s front office and coaching staff to embrace that expectation. Changes are needed as the trade deadline approaches, and both sides of the ball have been inefficient all season.
The front office certainly has actions that they can take; it’s just a matter of taking that next step. The path is there, but without adequate change, the Cardinals will be stuck at the bottom of the NFL.
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