NFL power rankings: Which teams will have the best passing attack this season?
By Ryan Heckman
29. Arizona Cardinals
A year ago, the Arizona Cardinals somehow finished 18th in passing. But, that’s also because Kyler Murray played part of the season, as did DeAndre Hopkins. Fast forward to present day, and the Cardinals will more than likely be starting the season without Murray, who is coming back from a torn ACL.
Not only will they be without Murray, but Hopkins is also out of the picture, too. This is a team that is in full-on rebuild mode and is in no hurry to win football games. Murray won’t come back too soon, that’s for certain. And, why would he? He has no reason to come back sooner than when he is 100 percent healthy.
Without Murray to begin the year, it will be Colt McCoy throwing to Marquise Brown as the team’s de facto number-one wide receiver. Is Brown good enough to own that type of role? He wasn’t quite ready in Baltimore, but now has an opportunity to step up and be “him” for Arizona.
Whether or not he can do it remains irrelevant, though, as the Cardinals are going to struggle offensively and defensively; in every aspect of the game, really. This team is going to be bad.