The Arizona Cardinals are entering the 2026 offseason with significant changes ahead, starting with the search for a new head coach to replace Jonathan Gannon. General Manager Monti Ossenfort will lead the process of hiring a new coaching staff, which will be responsible for developing the roster he has assembled.
Ossenfort commented on the team’s transformation over recent years: “I think we have certainly flipped what this roster looked like three years ago,” he said. “I believe we have a talented group of young players, players that have played a lot. There is no replication of playing on the field. We have to continue to do better. We have to do better at developing players, a better job of player acquisition.”
Currently, the Cardinals’ salary cap situation is tighter than last year, with just over $20 million in space according to overthecap.com. While this puts them in a better position than several teams facing cap cuts, it limits flexibility unless contracts are restructured or players are released.
The team retains key contributors such as tight end Trey McBride—who set an NFL record for tight end catches—wide receiver Michael Wilson, and left tackle Paris Johnson Jr., but injuries and upcoming free agency mean adjustments are likely. The direction of these changes will depend largely on the philosophy of the next head coach.
As noted by azcardinals.com writer Darren Urban, several core positions face uncertainty due to expiring contracts or injury recoveries. The quarterback group includes Jacoby Brissett and Kyler Murray under contract through 2026 and 2028 respectively; questions remain about who will start next season.
Running back James Conner’s future is uncertain following an injury and pending input from new coaching leadership. Among wide receivers, Marvin Harrison Jr.’s development was hampered by injuries while Michael Wilson emerged as a top target.
On defense, rookies like Denzel Burke made progress at cornerback while veterans such as Calais Campbell contributed during his homecoming season. Injuries affected many positions across both offense and defense.
Special teams also face potential turnover with multiple specialists headed toward free agency or recovering from injuries.
The Arizona Cardinals represent the Phoenix area and play their home games in Glendale as part of the NFC West division of the NFL (official website). The franchise traces its origins back to 1898 and is recognized as the oldest continuously operating professional football team in the United States (official website). Over their history, they have claimed NFL championships in 1925 and 1947 (official website) and won an NFC championship in 2008 (official website) .
With several key decisions ahead regarding personnel moves and coaching hires, how Ossenfort navigates this offseason will shape whether recent draft investments develop into long-term contributors for one of football’s most historic franchises.
