Projected starting offense for Arizona Cardinals in 2025
Training camp starts in less than a month for the Cardinals, but here is their projected starting offense for now.
The Arizona Cardinals will open training camp in just under a month and we will be able watch roster battles, position battles and starting battles. But even a month away from that, we can project what the starting lineup will look like, on both sides of the ball.
While it is early, here are some early projections for the offense.
Projected Arizona Cardinals starting lineup: Offense
Quarterback: Kyler Murray
This is no question. He is the unquestioned starter.
Running back: James Conner
While 2024 third-round pick Trey Benson believes he and Conner can be a combined pair of RB1s, Conner is still the starter. Benson's role should be greater, though, and Emari Demercado should be seen as their third-down back for now.
Wide receiver: Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson (Zay Jones as WR3)
The Cardinals' base offense is "12" personnel, or two receivers and two tight ends. Harrison and Wilson were the top two last year and nothing appears to have changed. When they go with three receivers, it was Jones getting more playing time at the end of the season instead of Greg Dortch. Why? Wilson was getting snaps in the slot, and that means three receivers at least 6-foot-2.
Tight end: Trey McBride, Tip Reiman
Elijah Higgins will play a lot, but Reiman played more snaps than Higgins, even as a rookie, Higgins is a versatile tight end, but Reiman is that traditional No. 2 blocking tight end. McBride is unquestionably the No. 1 TE.
Offensive line: Paris Johnson, Evan Brown, Hjalte Froholdt, Isaiah Adams, Jonah Williams
Four of the five were starters last year. Adams is the newcomer. Barring injury, the only real reason this might change is if the Cardinals bring back Will Hernandez, still a free agent and recovering from a torn ACL suffered in Week 5 last year.
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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