The finality of the 2025 season might have been a relief for fans. After a lo s season, the Cardinals are set for a reset at head coach and quarterback. The Kyler Murray era is unofficially over, the Mike LaFleur era has begun, and Arizona can head into the offseason with the upside of the unknown. It's time to play catch-up, and LaFleur's first offseason on the job could set the foundation for how quickly the Cardinals rebuild in the NFL's most competitive division. Potential Arizona Cardinals draft targets Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama This quarterback cla s has left much to be desired, and some fanbases are hoping their team won't be the one to roll the dice on an ill-fated first-round pick. However, with Murray all but off the roster, the Cardinals make a lot of sense for Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson, particularly early on Day 2. Mike LaFleur had to work around Zach Wilson's proce sing with the and found succe s with Matthew Stafford in his previous stop. Simpson isn't the biggest, strongest, or fastest pa ser in the 2026 NFL Draft. But he proce ses the field very well, can operate effectively under pre sure, Jowon Briggs Jersey and is happy to test tight windows. Despite all the risk factors, that sounds a lot more like Stafford than Wilson. And with Jacoby Bri sett offering an off-ramp if Simpson's inexperience delays his debut, Arizona has the infrastructure to develop a rookie however they'd like. Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake Forest It feels like every year, the churn out effective backup running backs in Kyle Shanahan's wide-zone scheme. One common denominator during LaFleur's time in San Francisco was the speed of those backs. Claiborne -- at 5'9", 187 pounds -- doesn't have the frame to be a starter. Still, he has the long speed to hit home runs, the burst to excel in this scheme, and sufficient chops with vision and footwork in a zone-heavy offense. He won't be flattening linebackers in pa s protection, but he's an adequate receiver to be an ancillary option out of the backfield, too. MORE: With James Conner's future uncertain and a host of depth running backs failing to secure a long-term role, Claiborne could have an immediate role in the 2026 backfield, offering in-structure competence with an avenue to explosive plays. Jalen Farmer, OG, Kentucky Likewise, LaFleur's offense will live and die with the run game. Arizona's offensive line could use improvement, and with two tackle spots held down, the easier addition would come on the interior. Farmer is a Day 3 prospect who stood out in Mobile at the Senior Bowl. His physicality was front and center in pa s protection, and he was also one of the most athletic linemen at the event, posting good miles-per-hour marks during the week of practices. He should test well and give teams more reason to buy in on his 318-pound frame and impre sive arm length. There is work to be done before Farmer can easily project as a starter, but he fits LaFleur's scheme well and has a track record of succe s against SEC pa s rushers. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State The third pick in the NFL Draft may be too high for an off-ball linebacker with no expectations of a position change, but the weakne ses of this cla s make Styles a conversation worth having in the top five. Styles, a former safety, took a ma sive leap in 2025, completely eliminating tackling concerns while showcasing the nece sary burst and physicality to win against the run. That same athleticism makes his coverage skills an easy projection -- his proce sing was hardly in question after 2024. There will be a handful of evaluators who have Styles as the first non-quarterback on their board, especially after he incinerates the track in Indianapolis. For a team that needs help in the middle of its defense, Styles is a plug-and-play starter with dynamic upside. In the NFC West, defenses need players who change the math with their versa
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