February 22, 2026
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver
Michael Wilson emerged as a breakout pass-catcher in 2025, recording 78 receptions for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns on 126 targets across 17 games played. The 25-year-old's rise coincided with the Cardinals' mid-season quarterback change from
Kyler Murray to
Jacoby Brissett, as well as injury issues in the team's backfield that led Arizona to become one of the NFL's most pass-heavy offenses. Entering 2026, the Cardinals will have an entirely new coaching staff led by former Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. Arizona could also have a new quarterback under center, as Brissett is a career journeyman and the team is reportedly looking to move on from Murray. The turnover in Arizona creates some uncertainty that Wilson will be able to repeat his 2025 success in 2026 and beyond. However, his breakout season cannot be ignored, and Wilson's value in dynasty formats should be on the rise.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 21, 2026
Across 13 games in 2025, Arizona Cardinals running back
Emari Demercado recorded 413 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown on 57 touches. Demercado opened the year as the RB3 in Arizona behind
James Conner (ankle) and
Trey Benson (knee). However, Conner suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 3, and Benson went down for the year with a knee ailment in Week 4. Despite the injuries ahead of him, Demercado was unable to carve out a lead role in Arizona and ended up splitting playing time with running backs
Michael Carter and
Bam Knight. Demercado is now set to hit restricted free agency, so there is no guarantee he will be back with the Cardinals in 2026. Even if he gets a new contract in Arizona, it seems clear that the team views him as a complementary piece. The Cardinals should also get Benson back in time for the start of next season, and could look to add more talent in either free agency or the draft. In dynasty formats, Demercado may no longer be worth rostering after his underwhelming 2025 showing.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 18, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals have not put a timetable on when they want to decide on the future of quarterback
Kyler Murray (foot) this offseason, according to Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports. "Just like everything else on our roster, just open conversations right now throughout this building. No time frame on that," head coach Mike LaFleur said. Reports this offseason have suggested that the Cardinals want to try to trade the 28-year-old as part of their rebuild going into 2026. The former first overall pick in 2019 out of Oklahoma had another disappointing showing in 2025, playing in only five games due to a foot injury while completing 68.3% of his passes for 962 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions. The fact that Arizona was in no rush to have Murray return in the second half last year speaks volumes about how they feel about Murray. A change of scenery might be best for him at this point, and Murray won't be anything more than a QB2 in fantasy this fall.
--Keith HernandezSource: Arizona Sports - Tyler Drake
February 16, 2026
The Athletic's Doug Haller believes that Arizona Cardinals running back
James Conner (foot) could be a salary cap casualty this offseason. Conner has been a major asset to Arizona's offense during his five years with the team and is among the most respected players in the locker room, but he's also coming off a severe foot injury that limited him to just three games in 2025. He'll turn 31 years old in May and is under contract through the 2026 season, and cutting him would save the Cardinals around $8 million. Cutting Conner would allow the team to use the extra money to find a younger replacement in the backfield. The Cardinals would face a $2.25 million dead-cap hit by releasing Conner if he's a pre-June 1 cut. Even though Conner had two 1,000-yard seasons before his injury last year, he will most likely struggle to find a prominent role as a lead back in either Arizona or somewhere else next season while coming off a serious injury.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Doug Haller
February 15, 2026
Once viewed as the dynasty QB1, a string of disappointing seasons has sunk Arizona Cardinals quarterback
Kyler Murray's value to an all-time low, with him currently going outside the top 20 at the position in dynasty startups. While his relationship with the previous coaching staff led many to believe he'd taken his last snaps in Arizona after a soft benching to end his 2025 season, the Cardinals cleaned house this offseason, hiring a new head coach and offensive coordinator. Signs still point to Murray being released or traded before a portion of his contract becomes guaranteed in mid-March, but his status remains one of the biggest question marks of the offseason. With an uninspiring incoming quarterback draft class, Murray could be the first domino to fall in the trade/free agent market, but with so much uncertainty surrounding him, he remains a risky dynasty buy. Based on name value alone, his cost in a trade is likely still higher than his current startup placement reflects, and while his perceived value will ultimately rise if he finds a preferable landing spot, his asking cost may not. As such, he remains a hold in most dynasty leagues.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
February 13, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals are expected to hire former NFL Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Schaub as their new QBs coach, sources told Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. Schaub played in the NFL from 2004 to 2020 and made 93 career starts with the Houston Texans, Atlanta Falcons, Oakland Raiders, and Baltimore Ravens. He threw for a league-high 4,770 yards on a league-high 583 passing attempts in 2009 with the Texans. The 44-year-old was an offensive analyst for the Falcons in 2023, but this will be his first coaching job in the NFL as he joins new head coach Mike LaFleur's offense in Arizona. LaFleur was on Atlanta's staff from 2015 to 2016 when Schaub was the backup for
Matt Ryan. It's unclear exactly what direction the Cardinals will go in at the QB position going into next season, as they've been rumored to be looking to trade
Kyler Murray (foot).
--Keith HernandezSource: CBS Sports - Matt Zenitz
February 13, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals are expected to retain defensive coordinator Nick Rallis under new head coach Mike LaFleur, sources told Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. Rallis was the defensive coordinator under previous head coach Jonathan Gannon for the last three seasons, and he will remain in Arizona under LaFleur in 2026. The 32-year-old was the youngest DC in the NFL when he was hired by the Cardinals three seasons ago. Although Gannon shouldered most of the blame, the Cardinals had one of the worst defenses in the league under Callis in two of the last three years. Arizona's defense allowed the fourth-most points per game (28.7), the sixth-most total yards per game (357.7), the ninth-most passing yards per game (230.8), and the eighth-most rushing yards per game (126.9) under Callis during the regular season in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: CBS Sports - Matt Zenitz
February 11, 2026
Heading into his draft year in 2024, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver
Marvin Harrison Jr. was widely considered to be a sure-fire superstar at his position. So far through his first two NFL seasons, the 23-year-old has struggled to live up to the hype. Across 12 games played in 2025, Harrison Jr. recorded 41 receptions for 608 yards and four touchdowns on 73 targets. He also dealt with myriad injuries before eventually ending the season on Injured Reserve due to a foot issue. In fairness to Harrison Jr., Cardinals quarterback
Kyler Murray missed most of the season with a foot injury of his own, furthering an already unstable offensive environment in Arizona. Heading into 2026, Harrison Jr. will be working with a new coaching staff, with former Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur taking over as the Cardinals' head coach. While LaFleur's presence could help kick-start Harrison Jr.'s career, 2026 looks like a make-or-break season for the young wideout's fantasy value, which is trending downwards in dynasty formats.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 11, 2026
Arizona Cardinals tight end
Trey McBride earned first-team All-Pro honors after setting the all-time single-season reception record by a tight end in his banner 2025 season. Across 17 games, the 26-year-old recorded 126 catches for 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns on 169 targets. McBride was the number one scoring tight end in fantasy football in 2025, and given his age, he projects to continue his dominance for at least the next few seasons. The Cardinals are reportedly looking to trade quarterback
Kyler Murray this offseason, which means McBride could be facing another season of uncertainty under center in Arizona. However, McBride proved he could be highly productive even with career backup
Jacoby Brissett throwing him passes this past season. Heading into 2026, McBride looks like the clear fantasy TE1 in both redraft and dynasty formats.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 4, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals requested an interview with Houston Texans defensive backs coach Dino Vasso for their defensive-coordinator job, a source told the NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. This will be Vasso's second interview for a DC job this cycle after getting a look from the Tennessee Titans before they went with veteran Gus Bradley. In addition to Vasso, the Cardinals are looking at New York Giants outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen and Los Angeles Rams passing-game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant. Vasso is a rising assistant in the coaching ranks and has been coaching with the Texans since the 2021 season. Before joining the Texans, Vasso coached with the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. The Cardinals' defense could use all the help it can get after allowing the fourth-most points per game (28.7) and sixth-most total yards per game (357.7) in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
February 4, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals requested to interview New York Giants outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen for their defensive-coordinator position, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. Bullen was an in-house candidate for the Giants' DC job after John Harbaugh became the new head coach, and he also interviewed for the Dallas Cowboys' DC position. He was the Giants' interim DC in 2025 after the team fired Shane Bowen. If Bullen joins the Cardinals, it will be his second stint as a coach in Arizona after previously working as a position coach under former head coach Kliff Kingsbury from 2019 to 2022. He coached for the Miami Dolphins from 2012 to 2018. In addition to Bullen, the Cardinals have requested an interview with Los Angeles Rams assistant head coach and defensive passing-game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
February 4, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals are hiring former New York Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett as their offensive coordinator on Wednesday, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. The 46-year-old was the offensive coordinator for three seasons under head coach Matt LaFleur for the Green Bay Packers and will now team up with LaFleur's brother, Mike, in Arizona. Hackett initially joined the Miami Dolphins this offseason to be the quarterbacks coach, but he's departing for a better opportunity in the desert. Hackett's offenses have been nothing special since his time in Green Bay while working with future Hall of Fame QB
Aaron Rodgers, so it's an underwhelming hire for first-year head coach LaFleur, especially for a Cardinals team that is currently at a crossroads at QB with
Kyler Murray (foot). LaFleur announced on Tuesday that he will be calling the offensive plays in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
February 4, 2026
New Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur announced on Tuesday that he will call the offensive plays in his first year as head coach in 2026, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN. LaFleur is replacing Jonathan Gannon, who was fired on Jan. 5 after going 3-14 in 2025. The Cardinals have yet to hire a new offensive coordinator, who will be working under LaFleur. The last time that LaFleur called plays was in 2021 and 2022, when he was the New York Jets' offensive coordinator. He did not call plays the last three seasons under Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay. The Jets went 11-23 during LaFleur's two seasons with the team while starting five different quarterbacks. The biggest order of business for LaFleur and the Cardinals' front office this offseason will be to decide if QB
Kyler Murray (foot) is viewed as the long-term option under center.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Josh Weinfuss
February 4, 2026
SNY's Connor Hughes mentions Arizona Cardinals veteran quarterback
Jacoby Brissett as a potential trade target for the New York Jets this offseason. The 33-year-old went 7-8 as the starter for new Jets offensive coordinator in 2019, throwing for 2,942 yards with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions. He has one year left on his current deal with the Arizona Cardinals. Since 2016, Reich started 10 different QBs:
Bryce Young,
Andy Dalton,
Matt Ryan,
Sam Ehlinger,
Nick Foles,
Carson Wentz,
Philip Rivers, Brissett,
Brian Hoyer, and Andrew Luck. Brissett went 1-11 as the QB for Arizona in 2025, but he improved the offense over
Kyler Murray (foot) and threw for a career-high 3,366 yards with 23 touchdowns and eight picks in 14 games (12 starts). The Jets currently have only
Justin Fields and
Brady Cook under contract at QB, with few options expected to be available in the draft or free agency this offseason.
--Keith HernandezSource: SNY - Connor Hughes
February 1, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals are working to finalize a five-year deal to make Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur their next head coach. LaFleur has spent the past three seasons as the offensive coordinator in Los Angeles after two years in the same position with the New York Jets. The Rams led the NFL in both offensive yards and scoring in 2025, and LaFleur's presence in Arizona will unquestionably boost the fantasy stock of most Cardinals offensive weapons, assuming he's able to find a suitable answer at the quarterback position. With earlier reports that the Las Vegas Raiders are close to naming Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak as their next head coach, all 10 head coaching vacancies have now been filled before the 2026 season.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Adam Schefter
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