It is mid-January 2026, and if you’re looking at the cardinals 53 man roster, things look a whole lot different than they did even two months ago. The desert sun hasn't changed, but the vibes? Completely different. After a 2025 season that felt like a rollercoaster with the brakes cut, Arizona is sitting at a massive crossroads.
We’ve got a head coaching vacancy. Kyler Murray is on IR. James Conner is on IR. It’s basically the "Next Man Up" philosophy taken to a terrifying extreme.
Honestly, looking at the current depth chart is like reading a medical journal. But among the wreckage, some massive stories emerged. If you just look at the names on the back of the jerseys, you’re missing the actual drama of how this 53-man unit held together—or didn't.
The QB Room: Jacoby Brissett’s Wild Ride
Nobody—and I mean nobody—expected Jacoby Brissett to be the face of the cardinals 53 man roster in January. But with Kyler Murray sidelined by a foot injury, Brissett didn't just fill in; he actually set career highs in several categories. It's one of those weird NFL stories where a "bridge" quarterback ends up building the whole bridge himself.
Then there’s Kedon Slovis. The rookie is sitting right there, waiting for an offseason to actually prove he’s more than just a clipboard holder.
Kyler’s future? It’s the elephant in the room. Monti Ossenfort, the GM, has been pretty blunt: "All options are on the table." That’s GM-speak for "we’re looking at everyone." When you have a massive contract like Kyler's and a roster that needs help everywhere, you start wondering if the 53-man list in 2026 will even have his name on it by August.
Wide Receiver Breakouts and Heartbreaks
If there is one absolute bright spot, it’s Michael Wilson.
📖 Related: Vince Carter Meme I Got One More: The Story Behind the Internet's Favorite Comeback
The guy just hit the 1,000-yard mark. That’s huge. Even more impressive? He had less than 200 yards through the first eight games of the season. He basically decided to become WR1 halfway through the year and forgot to stop. People are already calling him "WR1K," which is a bit cheesy, but hey, when you’re 25 and catching everything thrown your way, you earn the nickname.
On the flip side, Marvin Harrison Jr. ended up on IR with a foot injury. It’s a gut punch. You draft a guy like that to be the centerpiece, and now you’re looking at a receiver room filled with names like Jalen Brooks, Tejhaun Palmer, and Xavier Weaver.
Brooks and Weaver have had some "look-at-me" moments, but let's be real: they aren't MHJ.
The Trenches: A Tale of Two Lines
The offensive line has been a revolving door. Hjalte Froholdt is the only starter who actually played every game. Talk about an anchor.
Paris Johnson Jr. played well but, for the second year in a row, lost the end of the season to injury. It’s a worrying trend. When your cornerstone tackle can't finish the schedule, it messes with the chemistry of the entire cardinals 53 man roster.
Here’s a quick look at who is actually signed through 2026 on that line:
👉 See also: Finding the Best Texas Longhorns iPhone Wallpaper Without the Low-Res Junk
- Paris Johnson Jr. (T): The future, if he stays healthy.
- Hjalte Froholdt (C): The veteran glue.
- Evan Brown (G): Sidelined late by personal issues but still under contract.
- Jon Gaines II (C/G): Showed promise in December.
And then there's the defensive line. Calais Campbell came home, and despite the team's record, his return was a massive emotional win. But he’s a UFA now. The youth movement is led by Darius Robinson and Dante Stills, while Walter Nolen III showed flashes of dominance in the six games he actually played before injuries took him out.
The Budda Baker Factor
You can't talk about the Cardinals without mentioning Budda Baker.
Another Pro Bowl berth. He’s the heart of the defense. But he’s 30 now. In NFL years, that’s when the conversation starts shifting from "he's our best player" to "how much longer can he do this?"
Next to him, Jalen Thompson is headed toward free agency. That is a massive question mark. If Thompson walks, the secondary becomes a collection of young, unproven talent like Dadrion Taylor-Demerson and rookie Denzel Burke.
Burke actually emerged as a starter by the end of the season. He's got that "dog" in him, as the kids say. Pairing him with Will Johnson (who had a solid rookie year despite some ups and downs) gives the Cardinals a cornerback duo that might actually be respectable in a year or two.
Tight Ends: The Only Spot With Zero Worries
Trey McBride is a monster.
✨ Don't miss: Why Isn't Mbappe Playing Today: The Real Madrid Crisis Explained
He finished second in the NFL for catches by a tight end (126). That’s not just "good for a Cardinal"—that’s "best in the league" territory. He’s signed through 2029, making him the most stable part of this entire organization.
Elijah Higgins has also turned into a legitimate pass-catching weapon. When the wide receivers were dropping like flies, Higgins stepped up. Between McBride and Higgins, whoever the new head coach is will at least have a friendly middle-of-the-field to work with.
What’s Next for the Roster?
The 2026 offseason is going to be a bloodbath for the cardinals 53 man roster.
With a new coach coming in, everyone is on notice. We saw guys like Max Melton fall out of favor late in the year. We saw veteran stalwarts like James Conner and Will Hernandez get waylaid by injuries.
The reality is that this roster is top-heavy and thin in the middle. The "stars" like McBride and Wilson are great, but the depth is non-existent. When the injuries hit—and they hit hard in 2025—the house of cards folded.
Actionable Steps for the Offseason
If you’re a fan or just tracking this for your dynasty league, here is what needs to happen:
- Prioritize the O-Line Depth: They cannot rely on Kelvin Beachum (who is a UFA) to keep bailing them out. They need high-round draft capital here.
- Sort the QB Situation: Kyler Murray is the most expensive question mark in football. A decision needs to be made before the draft.
- Find a WR2: With MHJ coming back from injury and Michael Wilson breaking out, they still need a reliable third option. Zay Jones and Greg Dortch are "fine," but they aren't game-changers.
- Fix the D-Line: They need a pass rush. Badly. Josh Sweat was a great signing, but he can't do it alone.
This isn't a quick fix. The cardinals 53 man roster is a work in progress, and 2026 will likely be the year we finally see if Monti Ossenfort's vision actually has legs or if it was just a desert mirage.
Expect heavy movement in the secondary and on the defensive interior. Keep an eye on those "Exclusive Rights Free Agents" like P.J. Mustipher and Travis Vokolek. They aren't the names that sell jerseys, but they are the ones who fill out the bottom of the roster—and as we saw this year, the bottom of the roster matters a whole lot when the starters start heading to the trainer's room.