2014 NFL Preview: Everything you need to know about the Arizona Cardinals

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Arizona Cardinals

Schedule | Roster

Last season was filled with highs and lows for the Cardinals, who, despite doubling their win total from the previous season, missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.

Under the direction of defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, the Cardinals had the sixth-most sacks in the NFL (47), allowed the seventh-fewest points per game (20.3), and had the league's best run defense.

Among the Cardinals' offensive highlights was the play of quarterback Carson Palmer, who completed 362-of-572 passes (63.2 percent) for 4,274 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions in his first season with the team. Rookie running back Andre Ellington was equally impressive, rushing for 652 yards and three touchdowns on 118 attempts (5.5 yards per carry).

Preseason Power Ranking - #10

The Cardinals made major strides under Bruce Arians in 2013, winning twice as many games as the previous season. Their 10 wins weren't enough to advance to the playoffs, though, and they will have to be even better this season if they hope to finish atop the NFC West. More...

Key Additions/Departures

Key Additions: OT Jared Veldheer, CB Antonio Cromartie, LB Larry Foote, WR Ted Ginn

Key Departures: LB Karlos Dansby, WR Andre Roberts, RB Rashard Mendenhall

The Cardinals set their sights on former Oakland Raiders starting left tackle Jared Veldheer early on in free agency, and wasted little time getting the 26-year-old under contract. At 6-foot-8 and 330 pounds, he should provide Palmer with some much-needed blindside protection.

Karlos Dansby played a big role for the Cardinals last season, and it will be interesting to see how the team fares in his absence. Kevin Minter is the most likely candidate to replace him, with Larry Foote slated to take over Daryl Washington's spot at inside linebacker while he serves a season-long suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.

The early retirement of Rashard Mendenhall could mean big things for Andre Ellington, who head coach Bruce Arians projects will handle 25-30 touches per game.

2014 Draft Class 

The Cardinals addressed an immediate need with their selection of Bucannon, whose size and speed should help them improve their tight end coverage - a problem that plagued Arizona last season. A four-year starter at Washington State, Bucannon joins a secondary that includes 2013 third-round pick Tyrann Mathieu, Patrick Peterson, and Antonio Cromartie. 

Second-round pick Niklas, widely regarded as the best blocking tight end of the 2014 draft class, should fit in well with Arians' offense. The 6-foot-6, 270-pounder had 32 receptions for 498 yards and five touchdowns as a junior at Notre Dame in 2013.

Brown, a relatively unknown wide receiver out of Pittsburg State, is exceeding expectations in training camp and could play a big role in the Cardinals' passing attack this season.

Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Bruce Arians
Offensive Coordinator: Harold Goodwin
Defensive Coordinator: Todd Bowles

Last year marked a changing of the guard in Arizona, with Ken Whisenhunt out after six seasons and Arians in. The Cardinals' first year under Arians may not have included a playoff appearance, but it did see the team finish above .500 for the first time since 2009.

Bowles helped the Cardinals knock nearly 53 yards per game off their run defense, but replicating last year's No. 1 finish won't be easy. In addition to losing Dansby in free agency and Washington to a one-year suspension, Arizona will be without star defensive tackle Darnell Dockett for the season as he recovers from a torn ACL suffered during training camp.

The Cardinals went 7-2 down the stretch in 2013, which is either evidence of the team growing more comfortable with the Arians philosophy, or pure luck. Chances are, it was the former, but that will become more clear as this season goes on.

2014 Schedule

The schedule-makers weren't overly hard on the Cardinals this season, with eight of their 16 games coming against teams that failed to advance to the playoffs in 2013 (New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Oakland Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, St. Louis Rams, and Atlanta Falcons). They do face the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks twice, though.

Bold Predictions

The Cardinals will win the NFC West: The Cardinals came so close to making the playoffs last season, and should put up a big fight in 2014. Sure, they have the Seahawks and 49ers to contend with (and let's not discount the Rams, especially with the defensive front they have), but they made too many significant moves in free agency not to get better. They may not be a Super Bowl-caliber team just yet, but the Cardinals have what it takes to clinch the division. -Caitlyn Holroyd

Andre Ellington will run for 1,500 yards: Ellington led the league with a 5.5 yards per carry average last year, but only received 118 carries. He'll be the Cards' feature back this year and become a major focal point of the offense. Many point to Ellington’s smallish frame as a reason he won't break out, but he also finished second in 2013 in yards after contact per attempt. He can handle a starter's workload. -Michael Amato

Patrick Peterson will win Defensive Player of the Year: After recording seven interceptions in 2012, Peterson's total dropped to only three last year, a result of opposing quarterbacks trying to avoid throwing in his direction. With Antonio Cromarite now in town and Tyrann Mathieu entering his second year, there will be less holes in Arizona’s defense to pick on. That will create more opportunities for Peterson and he will capitalize, becoming the best defensive player in the game. -Mike Dickson

Larry Fitzgerald will be traded. Fitzgerald is set to count $23.6 million against the cap next season - way too much money for a player who, now in his 30s, is still a strong starter but no longer one of the league's elites. Michael Floyd is ready to become the Cardinals' top option in the passing game, and the team may feel it's a better strategy to get something of value for Fitzgerald now than to play out the season and release him in 2015. Fitzgerald could even try to orchestrate a deal with a Super Bowl contender - he only has a few more chances to win a ring, and the path out of the NFC West looks rocky for the foreseeable future. -David Woods