Spotlight Season: Three Cardinals Under the Most Pressure to Perform in 2025

The Arizona Cardinals are no strangers to rebuilding, but in 2025, expectations are shifting. With a young quarterback in Kyler Murray looking to return to form, a front office committed to stability, and a fanbase hungry for relevance, the Cardinals are entering a defining stretch. They’ve made key moves in recent drafts and free agency, and now they need their cornerstone pieces to deliver. In this make-or-break year, three Cardinals in particular will shoulder more pressure than anyone else on the roster. Whether it’s living up to their draft billing, justifying a massive contract, or proving they belong on an NFL field at all, their performances could shape not only Arizona’s season, but the future of the franchise.

At the top of this list is quarterback Kyler Murray, who enters the 2025 season with more at stake than at any point in his NFL career. Since entering the league in 2019 as the No. 1 overall pick, Murray has flashed MVP-level talent, but inconsistency, injuries, and questions about his leadership have clouded his tenure in Arizona. After a torn ACL ended his 2022 campaign and slowed his 2023 return, Murray showed glimpses of the dual-threat dynamism that once made him the face of the franchise. But “glimpses” won’t cut it anymore. The Cardinals have put faith in Murray by resisting the temptation to move on through the draft or trade market, and this year, that patience needs to pay off.

In 2024, Murray played the final nine games and finished with decent numbers: 2,142 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions, adding 412 rushing yards and 3 scores on the ground. Those stats, while respectable, didn’t move the needle. He struggled with accuracy, decision-making under pressure, and chemistry with a patchwork receiving corps. But this offseason, the Cardinals gave him help. With the return of a healthy offensive line, the emergence of tight end Trey McBride, and the drafting of superstar receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., Murray finally has a structure that can support success. Now it’s on him to deliver. No more excuses. If Murray can’t put together a top-tier season and lead the Cardinals to playoff contention, the organization may begin to seriously explore other long-term options at quarterback. Given the financial commitment made to him—a $230 million extension that kicks into full gear this season—the spotlight is intense. He needs to not only stay healthy but also prove that he’s the leader this team can build around for years to come.

Another name under a different kind of pressure is Zaven Collins. Drafted 16th overall in 2021 as a linebacker, Collins was supposed to be a versatile chess piece capable of anchoring the defense for the next decade. But to this point, his career has been more of a puzzle than a solution. Collins struggled with his transition into the NFL, particularly with the mental side of the linebacker position—diagnosing plays, managing assignments, and staying in position. In an effort to unlock his potential, the Cardinals moved him to edge rusher, hoping his size and athleticism would translate into pass-rushing productivity. The move hasn’t exactly paid off.

In 2024, Collins posted 3.5 sacks, 6 tackles for loss, and 14 pressures in 17 games. Those numbers are not catastrophic, but they’re far from what the team needs from a first-round pick turned full-time edge rusher. With the addition of BJ Ojulari and the potential drafting of another pass rusher, Collins finds himself in a prove-it year. He’s entering the final season before his fifth-year option decision is due, and the Cardinals will have to choose whether to extend him, pick up that option, or let him walk.

The clock is ticking. Collins needs to be more than serviceable—he has to be disruptive. He has to show that he’s capable of turning pressures into sacks, getting off blocks, and holding the edge against the run. His versatility was supposed to be his calling card, but so far, it’s looked more like a player without a true position. If Collins doesn’t show tangible growth and impact, he’ll not only lose his starting job but might be considered one of the bigger draft whiffs in recent Cardinals history. That’s a label no one wants to wear, especially in a contract year.

Then there’s Rondale Moore, the shifty, undersized receiver who continues to fight for relevance in a league that demands production. Moore was taken in the second round of the 2021 draft, and while his explosiveness and speed made him a tantalizing weapon coming out of Purdue, injuries and inconsistent usage have stunted his development. At 5-foot-7, Moore was always going to face an uphill battle to be more than a gadget player, but 2025 will be the year he must redefine his narrative.

In four seasons, Moore has yet to break 500 receiving yards in a single campaign. His career highs came in 2022, when he caught 41 passes for 414 yards. Since then, he’s been relegated to bubble screens, jet sweeps, and a few deep shots that rarely materialized. With the arrival of Marvin Harrison Jr. and the continued emergence of Michael Wilson, Moore’s role is shrinking—and fast. The Cardinals have also invested in pass-catching backs and tight ends, which means Moore will have to fight for every snap he sees.

But despite the dwindling opportunities, 2025 is his chance to reclaim value. With a new offensive coordinator who favors pre-snap motion and creative usage of skill players, Moore could thrive if deployed correctly. He has the speed to stretch defenses horizontally and vertically, and his yards-after-catch potential is still intriguing. But potential doesn’t earn contracts—production does. If Moore can’t stay healthy and carve out a legitimate role in this offense, he might not be in the NFL much longer. He’s entering a contract year, and while he’s not facing the same franchise-altering expectations as Murray or Collins, the pressure on Moore is deeply personal. This is about proving he belongs, proving he can contribute meaningfully, and proving he wasn’t just a college highlight reel who couldn’t make the leap.

All three of these Cardinals are at different crossroads. Kyler Murray is trying to protect his throne as the franchise quarterback. Zaven Collins is trying to justify his draft pedigree and hold onto his NFL future. Rondale Moore is simply trying to remain part of the league. What they all share, however, is urgency. There’s no more room for “wait and see” in Arizona. This is a franchise that has spent the last few years in the NFL’s wilderness—watching rivals rise while it recalibrates.

The 2025 season is a pivot point. The Cardinals have a mix of young talent and veteran leadership. They have continuity on the coaching staff, a general manager who seems to have a coherent vision, and now, a roster that—at least on paper—can compete. But none of that matters if key players don’t step up.

For Murray, Collins, and Moore, this season isn’t just about numbers. It’s about perception. It’s about proving to the locker room, to the coaching staff, to the front office, and to the league that they can be counted on. It’s about proving the doubters wrong. It’s about showing they are part of the solution—and not the lingering problems that have held Arizona back.

The pressure is mounting. The lights are bright. And for these three Cardinals, 2025 will either be a redemption story or a harsh reality check.