One writer is very high on the Arizona Cardinals in his preseason NFL power rankings. How high? He has the team in position to make the NFL playoffs.
How good could the Arizona Cardinals be in the 2025-26 NFL season?
While we won't know until the season plays out, one NFL writer is pretty high on the team after its offseason moves.
How high? He elevated the team five spots in his latest NFL power rankings, putting the team at No. 12 overall and No. 7 among NFC teams.
Seven teams in each conference make the NFL playoffs, which would put Arizona in the NFL postseason.
The writer, USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis, explained his ranking for the Cardinals: "Below average under rookie coach Jonathan Gannon in 2023 to average last season, the Cards are hoping to sustain the upward trend into the postseason."
If the power rankings are any indication, the NFC West could be very difficult in the upcoming season. The Los Angeles Rams were No. 5 in the preseason power rankings, while the San Francisco 49ers came in at No. 11. The Seattle Seahawks were No. 16.
The Philadelphia Eagles (No. 1), Green Bay Packers (No. 6), Washington Commanders (No. 7) and Detroit Lions (No. 9) were the other teams ahead of the Cardinals in the rankings.
Where Arizona Cardinals rank in other preseason NFL power rankings
Is the Cardinals' No. 12 ranking by USA TODAY Sports an outlier? Here's what some other NFL writers are saying about Arizona in their preseason NFL power rankings.
Yahoo Sports: Cardinals ranked No. 19 in preseason NFL power rankings
Frank Schwab wrote: "While there are reasons to believe the Cardinals might improve again, their upside seems fairly limited. Does it really look like a 10-win team on paper? The Cardinals' win total at BetMGM is 8.5, and that feels right. It's the type of team that will be in the playoff hunt into December, but ultimately go into Week 18 with an 8-8 record. The defense will be better but not great, the offense will have some exciting moments but not enough to get it into the top 10, and the sum will be a team that is competitive just about every week but not enough to scare the 49ers or Rams in the NFC West race."
FOX Sports: Cardinals ranked No. 14 in preseason NFL power rankings
Ralph Vacchiano wrote: "They spent a lot on fixing their defense this offseason, adding Calais Campbell, Dalvin Tomlinson, Akeem Davis-Gaither and Josh Sweat to their front seven in free agency, and then drafting lineman Walter Nolen and corner Will Johnson in the first two rounds. But they didn’t touch an offense that ranked 11th and was maddeningly inconsistent last season. They think they’ve got enough in their big three of quarterback Kyler Murray, receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and running back James Conner. They might be right."
Fansided: Cardinals ranked No. 17 in preseason NFL power rankings
Lou Scataglia wrote: "The Arizona Cardinals went into the 2025 NFL Offseason needing to fix their defensive line, and they did just that, so things are going to begin to come into shape for this roster. Kyler Murray has to play just a little bit better as well if Arizona hopes to get into the postseason, but they've got what it takes."
Reach Jeremy Cluff at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Cardinals make jump in NFL power rankings before preseason
Category: Football
