Cardinals’ Offseason Gamble Faces Major Test After Sean Murphy-Bunting’s Season-Ending Setback
The Arizona Cardinals may not have vocalized it, but their offseason strategy sent a clear message: prioritize the defense. Their 2025 draft started with five straight defensive picks, indicating a full commitment to fixing a unit that ranked just 14th last season. But on the offensive side? Just one selection—a sixth-round guard. It’s a curious move that suggests confidence in the current offense, despite glaring holes that remain.
And that brings the focus squarely onto quarterback Kyler Murray. This season appears to rest heavily on his shoulders, and just as preparations for Organized Team Activities (OTAs) began, another curveball hit the franchise.
The #AZCardinals have placed CB Sean Murphy-Bunting on the reserve/non-football injury list, ending his 2025 season before it began.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 22, 2025
The Cardinals suffered a major blow before even taking the field. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the team placed cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting on the reserve/non-football injury list, ending his 2025 campaign before it even started. The exact nature of the injury hasn’t been disclosed, but the timing and the impact couldn’t be worse.
Murphy-Bunting was expected to be a crucial piece in Arizona’s secondary, especially in tandem with veteran safety Budda Baker. Coming off a season where he started 15 games, recorded three interceptions, and made over 50 tackles, his absence creates a massive gap in the defense. And now, the spotlight shifts to rookie Will Johnson.
Drafted 47th overall, Johnson was once projected as a top-10 pick before injury concerns lowered his stock. But the former Michigan standout enters the league with championship credentials and no reported health issues. Arizona originally planned to ease him into the rotation—but those plans have changed. The rookie is now expected to take on a starting role immediately.
This situation could turn into an opportunity: if Johnson lives up to his potential, the Cardinals might have pulled off one of the biggest draft steals of the year. However, the pressure is immense. It’s one thing to shine in college; it’s another to anchor an NFL secondary that just lost its leader.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals also made a move at linebacker, signing veteran J.J. Russell to a one-year deal. Russell, who went undrafted, spent time on Tampa Bay’s practice squad before making his mark in 2024 with 249 defensive snaps and major special teams contributions. He replaces Milo Eifler, who was released with no official explanation.
Russell brings experience, grit, and a chip-on-his-shoulder mentality to a defense that’s now short on proven talent. His presence could help steady the locker room during what promises to be a turbulent start to the season.
Ultimately, the Cardinals’ success in 2025 hinges on whether young players like Johnson can rise quickly—and whether Kyler Murray can carry an offense that was largely ignored in the draft. With key defensive losses and mounting pressure, Arizona’s offseason gamble is already being put to the test.