It is mid-January 2026. While most of the league is obsessing over playoff brackets, the desert is quiet. Kinda too quiet. If you follow the Arizona Cardinals, you know the drill: the season ended earlier than anyone wanted, and we’re back to staring at the depth chart like it’s a Rorschach test.
Everyone wants to talk about Marvin Harrison Jr. because, well, he’s the legacy. He’s the "can’t-miss" prospect who’s supposed to be the next Larry Fitzgerald. But if you actually watched the 2025 tape, the real conversation around the wide receiver Arizona Cardinals room is about the guy who was supposed to be the "other" guy.
The Breakout Nobody Predicted
Let’s be honest. Entering 2025, Michael Wilson was a "maybe." He was a third-round pick from Stanford with a history of soft-tissue injuries that made fans hold their breath every time he hit the turf. Then the season happened.
Wilson didn't just play; he took over. He finished the 2025 campaign with 78 receptions for 1,006 yards and 7 touchdowns. Think about that for a second. In an offense that spent half the year trying to find its identity with a rotating door at quarterback and a decimated run game, Wilson became the first Cardinals wideout not named DeAndre Hopkins or Christian Kirk to look like a true alpha in years.
What’s wild is how he did it. He had less than 200 yards through the first eight games. He was basically invisible. Then, something clicked. He started winning at the point of attack. He started making those "how did he catch that?" grabs away from his body. By the time he caught that 38-yarder in Cincinnati—his first career TD where he actually had to run it into the end zone—he was the focal point of the defense.
Marvin Harrison Jr. and the Sophomore Slump (Sorta)
Look, I’m not saying MHJ is a bust. Far from it. But 2025 was... weird for him. He finished with 41 catches for 608 yards and 4 touchdowns across 12 games. On paper? It’s fine. It’s decent. But after his rookie year where he tied franchise records with 8 scores, people expected 1,500 yards and a Pro Bowl.
The reality? He struggled with some nagging stuff and spent a lot of time seeing double coverage because, frankly, the Cardinals didn't have many other ways to scare people deep early on. He missed the season finale against the Rams with a heel issue.
Is he still the future? Yeah, probably. His average depth of target (aDOT) was up at 13.9, which shows they were trying to use him as a true vertical threat. But it’s Michael Wilson who currently holds the "Offensive Player of the Year" honors from the local media, and that tells you everything you need to know about the current hierarchy.
The Greg Dortch Dilemma
Then there’s Greg Dortch. The "Human Torch."
You've gotta feel for the guy. Every year, the Cardinals bring in someone to replace him, and every year, he just... produces. He played on a one-year, $3.3 million tender in 2025 and did exactly what he always does: 37 catches, a few big third-down conversions, and solid punt return work.
But he’s a Restricted Free Agent (RFA) heading into the 2026 offseason, and honestly, the Cardinals have a decision to make. With Xavier Weaver showing flashes and the draft looming, does Monti Ossenfort finally move on? Dortch is 27. He’s reliable. But he’s not a "difference-maker" in the way a modern NFL offense usually demands from its slot.
Who is Even Left?
Beyond the big three, the room gets thin fast.
- Xavier Weaver: He’s the young gun who took over return duties.
- Zay Jones: Currently on the roster but finished the year on IR with an Achilles injury. He’s 31. You do the math.
- Tejhaun Palmer: Spent most of the time on the practice squad but has the size (6'1", 210 lbs) that coaches love.
What the Cardinals Need to Do Next
The draft is the obvious answer. PFF is already mocking guys like Jordyn Tyson from Arizona State or Ohio State’s Carnell Tate to Arizona. It makes sense. You can’t go into 2026 hoping Michael Wilson stays healthy for 17 games again, and you definitely can't assume MHJ's heel is going to be 100% by OTAs.
The wide receiver Arizona Cardinals group is currently a two-man show with a lot of "if" statements behind them. If they want to help Kyler Murray—or whoever is under center after this coaching search—they need a veteran who isn't 31 and coming off a blown Achilles.
Your Actionable Offseason Checklist:
- Watch the Medicals: Keep a close eye on Marvin Harrison Jr.’s heel recovery. If he’s not running by March, start worrying.
- Monitor the Coaching Search: A new HC means a new scheme. If they hire a guy who loves "11 personnel" (three wide receivers), expect a major free-agent signing.
- Draft Prep: Start looking at the mid-round "Z" receivers. Arizona needs a possession guy who can win on the inside to let MHJ and Wilson stay on the perimeter.
The 2025 season proved that the Cardinals have two legitimate building blocks at receiver. Now, they just need to find the glue that holds the rest of the room together.