TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Cardinals' 2025 training camp runs from Tuesday to Aug. 7 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
The Cardinals spent the offseason overhauling their defensive front, adding first-round pick Walter Nolen III to the defensive line alongside a free-agent haul that included pass rushers Josh Sweat and Calais Campbell, as well as Dalvin Tomlinson in the middle of the line. However, Arizona's braintrust left the offense largely untouched, taking a chance that'll be played out during training camp and into the season.
This will be quarterback Kyler Murray's seventh training camp -- and potentially his most important. With Arizona showing last season that it's capable of being the best team in the NFC West, albeit for a few weeks, Murray will have the pressure of taking the Cardinals to the top of the standings and keeping them there this season.
There'll be more friction during training camp, coach Jonathan Gannon said this offseason, turning the intensity up a notch to prepare Arizona for a run to the playoffs, which they briefly thought would happen last season.
Here's a closer look at what we are watching at camp -- and a 53-man roster projection:
Was leaving the offense alone the right move?
General manager Monti Ossenfort is letting it ride on the Cardinals' offense, barely tweaking the unit during free agency and the draft. The most notable offensive move thus far was drafting guard Hayden Conner, who may or may not make the 53-man roster come September.
Arizona is set to run it back with the same offensive core: Murray, tight end Trey McBride, wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch and Zay Jones, and running back James Conner -- a reputable unit. They'll line up around an offensive line that'll return four starters from last season but still has one hole: right guard. It'll welcome back right tackle Jonah Williams, who had two knee injuries last season but who Arizona has committed to for the time being.
Last season, the Cardinals' offense was a rollercoaster, full of peaks and valleys, but leaving it alone this offseason was a sign the Cardinals' brass was confident in what Murray and Co. can do in 2025. But will that be right move? Only time will tell.
Three players to watch at camp
QB Kyler Murray. This very well may end up being his most important season in the NFL. Murray is in Year 7, he's been to the playoffs once, he has all his skill players around him returning and is in the third season of an offense that suits him well. What will he do with all of that?
LB BJ Ojulari. The pass rusher was set to be a starting outside linebacker last season but an ACL during training camp sidelined him for the year. He's healthy and back, and is poised to show why he was a second-round pick two years ago for a defensive front that's been completely overhauled this offseason. If he can find his rhythm and can stay on the field, Ojulari could be the answer Arizona has been seeking opposite of Sweat.
DE Darius Robinson. Robinson was one of the Cardinals' first-round picks last season, but played in just six games after injuring a calf injury last August. He went through a gauntlet of personal highs and lows, including losing his mother in October. He's put on significant weight and looks strong, and a lot of eyes will be on him in camp -- and well into the season.
Key position battles
Outside linebacker: Arizona committed to improving its pass rush this offseason by signing Sweat and drafting Jordan Burch, adding them to a room that already included Zaven Collins, Xavier Thomas and Ojulari. One side of the line belongs to Sweat. The other is up for grabs and will be a fight between Collins, who's the incumbent starter, and the others. Gannon said he ideally wants his best players on the field but also knows he and his staff will have to monitor snaps and not overwork players, so while the rest of the outside linebackers will compete to be a starter, there could be room in certain packages and situations for others.
Cornerback: This will be the kind of position battle that goes on all day every day during the camp and into the season. The Cardinals made the competition even stiffer this offseason by drafting Will Johnson out of Michigan in the second round after he was projected to be a first-round pick but fell. He, along with fellow rookie Denzel Burke, join a crowded cornerback room that includes Garrett Williams, Max Melton, Starling Thomas V, Kei'Trel Clark and Elijah Jones, who's entering his second season after not playing as a rookie because of an injury. All of them except Jones got reps in 2024, and with two or three corners on the field at any given time, they'll be pushing each other to make sure they're the ones who get playing time..
Keep an eye on: The Murray-Harrison chemistry
Where is the chemistry between Murray and Harrison? It was clear last season that at times Murray and Harrison weren't on the same page, despite spending a significant amount of time together in the offseason and during the season. With both spending time together again this offseason, how will their chemistry improve -- if it will, at all?
This is the most important relationship on the Cardinals in 2025 and if it doesn't work, it could not only be the story of the season, it could dictate how Arizona fares and whether or not the Cardinals make the playoffs.
53-man roster prediction
Quarterback (2): Kyler Murray, Jacoby Brissett
Running back (4): James Conner, Trey Benson, DeeJay Dallas, Emari Demercado
Wide receiver (5): Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch, Zay Jones, Simi Fehoko
Tight end (3): Trey McBride, Tip Reiman, Elijah Higgins
Offensive line (10): Paris Johnson Jr., Evan Brown, Hjalte Froholdt, Isaiah Adams, Jonah Williams, Kelvin Beachum, Jake Curhan, Jon Gaines II, Christian Jones, Nick Leverett.
Defensive line (7): Calais Campbell, L.J. Collier, Justin Jones, Walter Nolen III, Dalvin Tomlinson, Dante Stills, Darius Robinson.
Inside linebacker (4): Mack Wilson Sr., Cody Simon, Owen Pappoe, Mykal Walker,
Outside linebacker (5): Josh Sweat, Zaven Collins, BJ Ojulari, Jordan Burch, Baron Browning
Cornerback (6): Max Melton, Garrett Williams, Will Johnson, Starling Thomas V, Elijah Jones, Denzel Burke
Safety (4): Budda Baker, Jalen Thompson, Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Kitan Crawford
Specialists (3): K Chad Ryland, P Blake Gillikin, LS Aaron Brewer