Arizona Cardinals Mailbag: ELI5 Edition

Want to understand what’s going on with the Arizona Cardinals football team? Think of this like a big Q&A session where a writer named Odegard answers fan questions. We’ll break it down super simply—like you’re 5 years old—so anyone can follow along.

Important Point: The Cardinals are expected to have a really rough 2026 season on purpose, because losing badly could help them get a top draft pick and a future star quarterback.

Should the Cardinals Trade for Baker Mayfield?

A fan named Rob asked: Why not trade two first-round draft picks (in 2027 and 2028) plus player Jacoby Brissett to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for quarterback Baker Mayfield, and pay him $150 million over 3 years?

Odegard says:

• Tampa would probably say yes to that deal.
• But the Cardinals would then be stuck in the same spot they were in with old QB Kyler Murray—except now they’d be missing those two valuable first-round picks.
• Baker is “good” but not “great.”
• Paying him $50 million per year would make it hard to build a good team around him.
• The defense is bad, so even with Baker they wouldn’t be true contenders.
• Better plan: Suffer this season, then draft a cheap young quarterback next year.

Who Will Start at Quarterback?

Fan Valentin asked who will be the starting QB and why.

Odegard thinks:

• Jacoby Brissett may have asked for more money in the offseason, but he’ll show up to camp.
• If he doesn’t, new coach Mike LaFleur might just give the job to Gardner Minshew.
• Most likely, Brissett starts—at least for the first 6 weeks.

Who Could Be Traded Mid-Season?

Chris asked which players might be traded to collect more draft picks.

Obvious candidates:

• Josh Sweat – A great player; if he plays well early, they could trade him for a good pick.
• Budda Baker – A safety; not worth as much, but if the team is bad, trade him for a pick.
• Jacoby Brissett – Other teams may want him if they have injuries. Arizona wants to try rookie Carson Beck later, so trading Brissett makes sense.

Players to Watch in Training Camp

Ed asked which players to keep an eye on.

Watch these folks:

• Marvin Harrison Jr. – Needs to become a star or he’ll be a disappointment.
• Jeremiyah Love – Lots of hype; you can sometimes tell early if a guy is special.
• Carson Beck – Rookie QB; probably will struggle.
• Walt Nolen – Showed dominance as a rookie; coming off a big injury.

Why Are the Cardinals So Bad?

Fan mvpsunsdbook asked why the team is “trash.”

The simple reason:

• Ownership matters. Some owners spend big and cheat the rules a bit to win.
• Owner Michael Bidwill doesn’t do those things.
• The team won’t be like the Ravens, Vikings, Rams, or Patriots unless that changes.

Will It Ever Get Better?

RedSeaSzn2 asked if things improve.

Odegard says:

• Not in 2026—it may be one of the worst years ever.
• But if they’re terrible, they get a top-3 draft pick.
• The 2027 draft has exciting QB prospects; landing one could turn things around.

Why Should Fans Care?

Mr. Serious Business (a fan since 1988) is frustrated with the owning family.

Odegard says:

• Yes, ownership is poor.
• But winning can still happen despite that.
• A sale won’t happen, so root for:
  1. The team to lose (tank)
  2. The right QB to arrive
  3. The next GM to make a good plan for 2028–2030

Is BJ Ojulari Healthy Again?

Connor asked if BJ Ojulari is back to form after knee injury.

Notes:

• His knee injury was rough.
• Tyrann Mathieu said his similar injury took 2.5 years to feel normal.
• Ojulari flashed talent as a rookie; this season is key for him.

Should Rookies Start Right Away?

MinDakJack asked if starting young guys helps the team’s image.

Odegard says:

• Love? Yes—give him the ball 20 times a game.
• Beck? No—fans would be excited then sad when he plays badly.
• The image will stay bad because they’ll lose a lot anyway.

Any Chance They Win a Game?

GreenMonkey315 asked if they’ll win any.

Answer: Yes! Maybe even two!

Why Is Brissett Still on the Team?

ReezyBaby asked why Jacoby Brissett is still there.

Reason:

• GM Monti Ossenfort is in danger of being fired.
• He likes Brissett (he benched Murray for him last year).
• The team has the lowest ceiling in the NFL, but Ossenfort won’t cut him and risk his job more.

What Is a “Successful” Season?

Chalupa Batman asked how to define success in 2026.

Success looks like:

• Big growth from young building blocks: Paris Johnson, Walt Nolen, Marvin Harrison Jr., Will Johnson become Pro Bowl-level.
• QB play is bad and close games go against them.
• They win 3 or fewer games—that’s the best outcome!

Important Point: A “successful” Cardinals season means losing on purpose to set up a better future.

Summary

The Arizona Cardinals are planning to be bad in 2026 on purpose. They shouldn’t trade for Baker Mayfield. Brissett will likely start early. They may trade stars for picks. Watch young players like Love and Harrison. The owner isn’t helping, but a top draft pick in 2027 could save them. Fans should root for losses now to win later.

FAQ

Q: Will the Cardinals trade for Baker Mayfield?
A: No. It would cost too much and leave them stuck without draft picks and a weak team around him.

Q: Who starts at QB first?
A: Jacoby Brissett, at least for the first six weeks, unless he refuses to play.

Q: Is 2026 a lost year?
A: Pretty much on purpose—they want to lose to get a high draft pick and a future quarterback.

Q: Could they trade good players?
A: Yes, Josh Sweat, Budda Baker, and Brissett are likely trade candidates.

Q: Will they win any games at all?
A: Yes, Odegard joked they may even win two!