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Second Year Arizona Cardinals Who Must Step Up in 2025

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Second Year Arizona Cardinals Who Must Step Up in 2025


In the process of rebuilding the Arizona Cardinals from the husk left over at the end of the Steve Keim-era, general manager Monti Ossenfort has poured his energies into building a talented, young team through the draft.

The most critical component of that process could well be the twelve player class from 2024 that is now entering their second year in the NFL.

Much is made every offseason of the need for second year players to take a “leap” forward in their play and it is a fairly well-documented and accepted reality that the most noticeable difference in quality of play for many athletes occurs between their rookie and second years as they are still in their athletic prime but getting more used to the speed of the professional game.

From the mentioned 2024 draft class there are four players in particular who will need to put forth higher quality play this season for the Cardinals to have success as a team.

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1. WR Marvin Harrison Jr.

Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinal

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) during mini-camp at the Cardinals training center in Tempe on Jun 12, 2025. / Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The biggest name, and the one who entered his rookie year with the highest expectations, is undoubtedly Marvin Harrison Jr.

Harrison Jr. was immediately thrown to the wolves as a young player as the clear cut No. 1 receiver for the Cardinals and the inherent pressure of that designation clearly impacted him in some capacity and opposing defenses did not hold off at all.

As a superstar receiver from Ohio State he entered the league with a standing reputation and a star pedigree as the son of Colts legend Marvin Harrison.

It is important to note that Harrison Jr.’s rookie season was not bad, it just fell short of what were admittedly unfair expectations for a player’s first year as a pro.

Still, the point remains that he was drafted to be a star and the bedrock of the Cardinals passing game. If the team truly wants to improve that area of their offense, and they absolutely must to have sustained success in 2025 a lot of that runs through the anticipated improvement of Harrison Jr.

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2. DE Darius Robinson

Darius Robinson

Arizona Cardinals defensive end Darius Robinson (56) during organized team practice at Arizona Cardinals training center in Tempe on May 28, 2025. / Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The second of the Cardinals first-round picks in 2024, Darius Robinson is starting this season in a different place than the other players on this list.

Last season was a rough one for Robinson. Dealing with an injury kept him off the field the majority of his rookie year, which compounded with the unexpected passing of his mother, led to low-impact output from the 27th overall pick.

Coaches have spoken about 2025 as a sort of extension of Robinson’s rookie year with the added benefit that he has seen an NFL field and already has a feel for what the game is like at this level. This has raised expectations that his emergence in a full-time roll this season should be without many of the normal rookie growing pains.

Hopefully, there is truth to this because the Cardinals defensive line needs a player like Robinson who can emerge as a potential long-term solution and anchor that group. The team put a lot of resources into that area in free agency by bringing in Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell, but as older vets they will not be around forever.

A successful season from Robinson does not necessarily require a gaudy stat line but he does need to establish himself this year as a keystone of the Cardinals defensive line.

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3. CB Max Melton

Max Melton

Arizona Cardinals cornerbacks Max Melton (16) and Ekow Boye-Doe (35) during mini-camp at the Cardinals training center in Tempe on Jun 11, 2025. / Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The loss of Sean Murphy-Bunting for the season makes the improvement of Max Melton even more imperative for the overall success of the Cardinals secondary.

Melton got a lot of playing time as a rookie, coming in and out of the lineup but appearing in all 17 games. In those appearances he exhibited the gamut of what is expected out of rookie cornerbacks adjusting to the NFL but he finished with a very respectable 51 tackles and 5 passes defensed.

Now, Melton looks to be slotted in for a starting role on the outside opposite of rookie Will Johnson. That is a lot of pressure for two very young players at what is arguably the toughest position in football outside of quarterback.

Thankfully, slot corner Garrett Williams has emerged as one of the truly elite players in the league at that spot but success for Arizona’s defense will require high level play out of Melton who will hopefully be able to not only take a big step forward in his own development but help out the young Johnson on the other side.

4. Isaiah Adams

Isaiah Adams

Dec 15, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals guard Isaiah Adams (74) against the New England Patriots at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Cardinals did not re-sign Will Hernandez this offseason (as of this writing) which does leave a question mark at starting right guard.

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After Hernandez’s injury in 2024, then rookie Isaiah Adams found himself on the field quite a bit finishing the year with over 400 snaps. In those early appearances there were some evident issues with his play, most notably in pass protection that slowly did improve throughout the year.

Now, ahead of 2025 it seems like the starting right guard spot is Adams’ to lose as coaches have been praising his offseason training, noting his improved strength and dedication to improving on his weaknesses.

With the other four starting offensive line spots filled by veterans who been around the block, the biggest question for the position group is at right guard and it is imperative for the success of that unit that Adams, the supposed frontrunner for that spot, grows tremendously from year one to year two.



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2026 NFL draft: 3 potential trades back from No. 3 for Arizona Cardinals

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2026 NFL draft: 3 potential trades back from No. 3 for Arizona Cardinals



Since the Arizona Cardinals want to trade back from the No. 3 picks, here are three deals that could work.

The Arizona Cardinals have the third pick in the 2026 NFL draft, which begins this week on Thursday. All the reports coming out are saying that they want to trade out of the pick to acquire more draft picks.

But what does a trade look like and who could be involved?

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The Kansas City Chiefs are involved in talks at some level. ESPN’s Adam Schefter expects trade talks to heat up this week.

NFL teams use a variation of a trade value chart when it comes to draft picks. Now, what a team actually is willing to give up can be influenced by potential competition with other teams, but we can’t count on that.

Here is the general trade value chart teams use.

Here are some potential deals that could be done.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs have two first-round picks, which would be appealing to the Cardinals, who reportedly want to make a move for quarterback Ty Simpson, and the 29th pick might be just the spot to get him.

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The third overall pick is worth 514 points.

The Chiefs’ picks at No. 9 (387 points) and No. 29 (202 points) together are worth 589.

To make up the difference, the Cardinals could give up No. 65 (78 points) for a total of 592 points.

One deal could be:

  • Cardinals receive get No. 9 and No. 29 (589 points)
  • Chiefs receive No. 3 and No. 65 (592 points)

Another could be:

  • Cardinals receive No. 9, No. 29, No. 74 and 2027 third-round pick (653 points + value of future third-round pick, which is 36-78 points)
  • Chiefs receive No. 3 and No. 34 (689 points)

The Cardinals keep their third-round pick and the Chiefs essentially move back five spots from No. 29.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys have the 12th and 20th picks but no pick in the second round.

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Pick No. 12 is 347 points and No. 20 is 269 for a total of 616.

This deal is close:

  • Cardinals receive No. 12, No. 20 (616 points)
  • Cowboys receive No. 3, No. 65 (592 points)

New Orleans Saints

The Saints are perhaps a dark horse to move up, although they do not have two first-round picks. They have the No. 8 pick, worth 406 points. Their second-round pick, at No. 42, is worth 142 points.

This deal could work:

  • Cardinals receive No. 8, No. 42 (548 points)
  • Saints receive No. 3, No. 104 (547 points)

Then the Cardinals could use their two second-round picks to then move back into Round 1 to get Ty Simpson.

They could trade No. 34, No. 42 and No. 65 (395 points) for No. 28, No. 38 and No. 106 (398 total points).

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

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Dust returns to Phoenix area after hazy weekend – KTAR.com

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Dust returns to Phoenix area after hazy weekend – KTAR.com


PHOENIX — Breezy winds kicked up a blanket of dust across the Valley on Sunday, and forecasters say more is on the way this week.

Visibility in Phoenix became so bad on Sunday that Sky Harbor airport stopped flights for over an hour

The wind and dust peaked Sunday afternoon and gradually improved into the evening, said Michael Graves, an air quality meteorologist with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

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“You might’ve seen the mountains a bit obscured in the distance,” Graves told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Monday. “A lot of haze in the air.”

By Monday morning, skies had largely cleared and dust levels near the ground had dropped significantly.

Expect more gusty, dusty days this week

The relief may be short-lived.

ADEQ is watching for increased afternoon breezes Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, this time from the west and southwest. Though the winds are expected to be weaker than Sunday’s, Graves said forecasters cannot rule out dust.

“I wouldn’t say windstorm,” Graves said. “I would just say we’ve got some waves coming in. They’re going to increase our afternoon breeziness.”

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It’s enough to kick up dry, exposed dirt, which could create pockets of dust. There is a slight chance of broader regional dust transport, Graves said.

It will impact people with asthma, COPD or respiratory conditions the most. Graves advised those with issues to monitor conditions and stay indoors during the dustiest hours.

“If you’re going to be outside, be outside during the times when it’s less dusty or hazy,” Graves said.

Graves noted that spring weather systems typically pass to the north of the Phoenix area, delivering wind and slight temperature drops but little to no rain, a pattern likely to continue.

KTAR News reporter Kellen Shover contributed to this report.

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Trying to beat the heat: Addressing rising temperatures in Southern Arizona

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Trying to beat the heat: Addressing rising temperatures in Southern Arizona


The University of Arizona and Tucson are known for yearlong warm weather, but when is it too much? With temperature reaching record highs in March, the city of Tucson has already reported increased temperatures for this year. 

In the wake of the third annual Southern Arizona Heat Summit, integrating voices throughout the City of Tucson, community stakeholders and experts from UA gather to speak about possible solutions and policies to address rising temperatures and extreme heat. 

The summit strives to ensure that the lived experiences of Southern Arizona residents are voiced. The first summit commenced in 2024, in response to the declaration of an extreme heat emergency in Arizona by Gov. Katie Hobbs, as part of a larger plan called Arizona’s Extreme Heat Response Plan. 

With representation from organizations such as the American Red Cross, the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, Arizona Jobs with Justice, Tucson Indian Center and many more, the summit emphasized the importance of the perspective and concerns of stakeholder groups throughout the community. 

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The summit included a variety of UA experts, including faculty representing the School of Geography, Development and Environment; the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy; the Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health and the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture.

One particular project, led by Ladd Keith at the School of Landscape Architecture and Planning, is a part of the Southwest Urban Corridor Integrated Field Laboratory, which is funded by the United States’ Department of Energy to explore extreme heat throughout Arizona. SW-IFL works in collaboration with other national laboratories including those at ASU and NAU. 

The team works to analyze extreme heat in the southwest and rural areas, and how communities deal with heat by conducting interviews. The team has also prescribed policy to Pima County and the City of Tucson regarding more effective strategies to combat rising temperatures, such as green stormwater infrastructure. 

Anne-Lise Boyer, a post-doctoral researcher with the Climate Assessment for the Southwest, shared that the team particularly analyzed extreme heat in three parts: heat mitigation, heat management and heat governance.

Mitigation deals with prevention through strategies such as green infrastructure and planting trees, while management includes cooling sensors and heat warning systems. Governance allows these measures to be enacted through policy.

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In Tucson, some of the most meaningful work the team has engaged in has been drafting the City of Tucson’s Heat Action Roadmap in 2024, which outlines goals to mitigate and mandate extreme heat and its impacts while prioritizing community voices.  

The goals of the roadmap include informing and educating citizens of Tucson on the adverse effects of extreme heat and cooling people’s homes and neighborhoods by incorporating heat risk in regional planning. These steps are essential to practicing heat management, especially as the city of Tucson grows. 

“I think the most interesting thing about being based in Tucson is that because the heat has been here for a long time, it’s like a laboratory in itself,” Boyer said. “We have all this research and all this collaboration happening with local actors because it’s a pressing issue in Arizona.”

As the annual heat summit recurs, new ideas and perspectives continue to be shared throughout the community. Boyer shared that this year, the Southern Arizona Heat Summit focused on the youth perspective, highlighting middle school and high school students and how heat impacts their everyday lives. Many students spoke about how heat shaped their lives at home, school and sports.

“That’s one of the goals, to have community members participate and give their input in how they wish the city will deal with the heat,” Boyer said. 

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Boyer and Kirsten Lake, a program coordinator for the SW-IFL team, also shared how the impacts of extreme heat impact some neighborhoods and communities in Tucson more than others, and that their research often evaluates these factors to determine where heat management efforts would make the greatest impact.

“Its important when you’re putting into effect some of these measures, that you make sure you put it where it’s going to make the biggest difference,” Lake said.

The work of the SW-IFL team is not just locally known. The Brookhaven National Lab based in New York deployed a specialized truck to Tucson to collect information on the atmosphere and rising temperatures. The SW-IFL team hosted the Brookhaven team.

Additionally, Keith’s work has led to a guidebook called “Planning for Urban Heat Resilience” which focuses on the adverse effects extreme heat poses to marginalized communities across the country. 

“It is so different from place to place and neighborhood to neighborhood because you have to take the whole context into account,” Boyer said. “They recommend first to document the heat impacts in your communities.”

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