Editor’s note: Valley sports fans are dialed in to their teams’ past and present, and they have a good idea about 2025. To complement that anticipation, we’ve asked five beat writers for The Arizona Republic for their five most intriguing 2025 storylines. The math worked, so we’ll call it “25 for 2025,” and today we have the Cardinals.
Will we get a clear answer on Kyler Murray this year?
Through six seasons, it remains impossible to define Kyler Murray.
He is both electrifying and infuriating. He makes plays on a football field that take your breath away, then follows by missing routine throws. Sometimes, the two sides of Murray appear in a single game.
Consider where Murray stood a year ago. He was coming off consecutive seasons impacted by his torn ACL. It was his first full year under offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, whose scheme Murray has repeatedly lauded. And in Marvin Harrison Jr., he had a number-one receiver for the first time since DeAndre Hopkins left town. All the ingredients were in place for Murray to prove his elite status.
For 10 weeks, he turned that into reality. When the Cardinals hit their bye week, they were 6-4 and in sole possession of the NFC West. Murray was not asked to do too much but he guided the offense with aplomb. He had 16 total touchdowns to just three interceptions, 7.5 yards per pass attempt, 8.1 yards per rush attempt and a completion percentage of 69.2%.
Then, his season cratered. In a six-game stretch after the bye, the Cardinals went 1-5 as their quarterback struggled. He had six total touchdowns to eight interceptions, 6.7 yards per pass attempt, 6.2 yards per rush attempt and a completion percentage of 67.8%.
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So the central question persists. Is Murray a franchise quarterback who can win a Super Bowl with the right supporting cast? Or is he merely an average NFL starter, a talented player who will never be elite?
For six seasons, the answer has eluded the Cardinals. In 2021, when Murray made his lone playoff appearance in just his third season, there was no such uncertainty. Then there were the 2022 struggles, the ACL tear, the 2023 return and the 2024 inconsistency.
In 2025, the Cardinals need a real answer. It will determine the course of their franchise.
Can Marvin Harrison Jr.’s jersey deal be resolved?
Marvin Harrison Jr.’s rookie season has come and gone. With all its peaks and valleys, little about the perception surrounding Harrison is the same as it was six months ago.
There is, however, one constant: Harrison’s jersey is still not available for fans to purchase.
The crux of the issue goes back to a lawsuit from Harrison’s days at Ohio State. He signed a name, image and likeness deal with the apparel company Fanatics, which later accused him of not following through on his commitments. That has since snowballed into a lawsuit against both Harrison and Marvin Harrison Sr., his Hall of Fame father.
The lawsuit is seemingly related to Harrison’s jersey not being available. In August, the NFL Players Association informed the NFL, the Cardinals and Fanatics that they are not allowed to sell Harrison’s jersey due to “the wishes of his representatives.” (Harrison does not have an agent.) Fanatics manufactures and distributes all NFL jerseys.
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So, essentially, because of Fanatics’ lawsuit against Harrison, the two sides are engaged in a dispute that has prevented fans from purchasing his jersey.
Despite a rookie year that fell short of expectations, Harrison still inspires plenty of excitement. If his jersey were made available, it would immediately become among the Cardinals’ leading merchandise items. Throughout the season, there were scattered fans at State Farm Stadium wearing knockoff Harrison jerseys from foreign manufacturers.
All of that excitement, though, could dissipate if Harrison is unable to improve on his rookie season (62 receptions, 885 yards, eight touchdowns). The question is whether his jersey will become available before he and the Cardinals return to the field in September.
How aggressive will the Cardinals be in free agency?
Ever since general manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon took over before the 2023 season, the Cardinals have been calculated in their transactions.
In the 2023 draft, they traded down from the third overall pick, eschewing the opportunity to draft edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. so that they could collect draft capital. In the 2024 draft, they had the most picks of any team but opted against using those picks to make a blockbuster move.
In 2024 free agency, their biggest move was the two-year, $30 million signing of right tackle Jonah Williams. At the trade deadline, their only move was to deal a sixth-round pick for Baron Browning even when a handful of marquee edge rushers may have been available.
All of this caution has seemingly been aimed at 2025. At a projected $72.2 million, they have the fourth most cap space in the NFL.
The question now is whether Ossenfort will repeat his measured moves from last offseason or if he’ll go all out to bring a star or two to Arizona.
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The Cardinals certainly have room on their roster to make that happen. They desperately need an elite edge rusher and defensive tackle. And while their cornerback room is fairly crowded, they could use a true number-one outside cornerback — the type of player who could help with threats including Ja’Marr Chase, CeeDee Lamb, Nico Collins and Puka Nacua in a difficult 2025 schedule.
As the Cardinals approach free agency, their commitment to Petzing’s offensive philosophy will also be worth watching. Since Petzing was hired, they have almost exclusively opted for big, physical bodies at skill positions. Think Harrison, James Conner, Trey McBride and Michael Wilson.
In 2024, that philosophy left them without a speedy, field-stretching wide receiver, often forcing Harrison into a role for which he was not best suited. So in free agency, will the Cardinals adapt, or will they continue to go after physical playmakers at the expense of speed?
Does Kyzir White get a baby-name boost to stay in Arizona?
Back in November, defensive coordinator Nick Rallis welcomed his second child into the world: Dominick Kyzir Rallis.
Yes, that middle name is Kyzir, in honor of Cardinals linebacker Kyzir White. Rallis later explained that White — a team-first, accountable leader inside the Cardinals locker room — embodies the traits he wants his son to grow into one day.
But now, things might get awkward. White is a free agent and, on the field, the Cardinals could use an upgrade at linebacker. Per Pro Football Focus, White allowed 660 yards on 63 targets, more than any other Arizona defender. It’s no coincidence that the Cardinals struggled to contain the receiving threat of opposing running backs, who often run short-yardage routes over the middle.
It sets up a fascinating question in free agency. The Cardinals clearly value White’s presence as a leader who embodies the culture that they want to build. By naming his son after White, Rallis announced as much to the league. Will they value that over on-field production?
White’s case could also serve as an indicator for the rest of the offseason. This group of Cardinals decision-makers has repeatedly espoused the importance of culture. Often, creating that culture can come at the expense of acquiring highly talented playmakers with outsized personalities.
So as they enter a season with heightened expectations, the Cardinals will need to make some crucial decisions between talent and culture.
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Will fans start coming back to State Farm Stadium?
Even when the Cardinals were enjoying their unexpectedly strong start, there was a common sight on Sunday afternoons in Glendale. Much of State Farm Stadium — and nearly all of the sections behind the opposing sideline — would be filled by fans in visiting colors.
It was little surprise when Detroit fans filled the stadium in Week 3, given the Lions’ recent renaissance and all the Michigan transplants who call the Valley home. But in Week 4, Commanders fans took over the stadium — something they rarely do even at home. In Week 9 and 10, the miserable Bears and Jets experienced home-field support in Glendale. Even teams like the Rams and Chargers had a notable visiting presence.
The Valley will always be a haven for transplants. The Cardinals can’t expect to have the same home-field advantage as teams such as the Packers and Steelers boast. But in Year 6 of the Kyler Murray era, there was a clear lack of energy surrounding this team — a pervading sense of “prove it, then we’ll show up.”
Now, the team has increased season ticket prices for some fans by as much as 40% — an increase of nearly $100 per game in certain sections. It’s part of a multiyear ticketing strategy clearly aimed at wealthy fans. Last year, the team added casitas behind one end zone that go for thousands of dollars per game, replacing typical end zone seats. They also added field-level seats on each sideline.
Selling just a few seats in those areas can be a significant financial boon for the team, but they don’t contribute to a boisterous home-field environment. And ever since the run to the 2015 NFC championship game, that environment has been lacking at State Farm Stadium.
(This story was updated to add or change a video.)
Marvin Harrison Jr., the talented wide receiver for the Ohio State Buckeyes, has been making waves on and off the field. With his impressive performances on game day, it’s no surprise that his jersey sales have been skyrocketing.
Fans are showing their support for Harrison Jr. by proudly wearing his number on their backs, and it’s clear that the young star has a bright future ahead of him.
Despite the current restrictions on crowd sizes at games, the support for Harrison Jr. is loud and clear. Even with quieter crowds in the stadiums, his impact on the team and the fans is undeniable.
As Harrison Jr. continues to excel on the field, we can expect to see even more fans jumping on the bandwagon and proudly sporting his jersey. Keep an eye on this rising star as he continues to make a name for himself in the world of college football.
Tags:
Marvin Harrison Jr., jersey sales, football, college football, NCAA, Ohio State, wide receiver, merchandise, sports, fanbase, game day, quiet crowds, player stats, team spirit, college athletics
#Marvin #Harrison #Jr.s #jersey #sales #quiet #crowds
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