When and where: Week 13 in Arizona Key additions: HC Mike LaFleur, G Isaac Seumalo , RB Tyler Allgeier , DT Roy Lopez , WR Kendrick Bourne , QB Gardner Minshew Key subtractions: QB Kyler Murray , S Jalen Thompson, DT Dalvin Tomlinson , DL Calais Campbell , LT Kelvin Beachum , RT Jonah Williams Last season: The Cardinals, the franchise with the second worst winning percentage among active NFL teams, lost more games in 2025 than in any season in franchise history The question for this team: Which QB are the Cardinals drafting in April? The Cardinals season is already over. This is a team in a contract dispute with Jacoby Brissett , who led the team to one win in 12 starts in 2025. Brissett isn’t wrong to hold out, he’d probably make more money as a backup on another team, at the least he would have the benefit of no longer being on the Cardinals, a franchise that has charged players for the food they have given them. At the same time, the Cardinals also aren’t wrong to not give Brissett any additional money, they have Gardner Minshew and 3rd round pick Carson Beck to tank with. They don’t need Brissett, nobody does. There’s really no point in discussing the 2026 Arizona Cardinals. This is a team with the 6th most dead money (virtually the same as the Eagles) for 2026, and yet the 5th most cap space for 2026. According to Over The Cap, 24.8% of the Cardinals cap space is from rookie contracts, the most in the league. Over a third of the Cardinals salary cap for 2026 is being used on nobody on the roster. They’re not trying to compete this year. They want to lose this game and as many games as possible and have first shot at a bunch of QBs who a lot of people thought were going to be 1st round picks this past April. Good luck!
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: The 49ers made a polarizing draft pick. Well, in the case of their most recent one, 2026’s De’Zhaun Stribling, the pick itself seemed to be an absolute mixed bag when it comes to fans’ reactions. Most called it a reach—at best. And then he came to OTAs, and after everyone was done blasting the pick, reports came that he may have been off the board a couple picks later anyway . Now we have comparisons of Stribling to the likes of Chris Godwin Jr., and that an NFL team had him ranked higher than Philadelphia Eagles first-round pick Makai Lemon . Stribling’s stock continues to rise, and he hasn’t even played a snap yet. Add him as a sleeper to a rookie offensive player of the year list—a list from CBS Sports’ Jordan Dajani who gave four sleepers to consider . Stribling is known for his blocking ability and physicality, but he also ran a 4.36 40-yard dash at the combine at 6-foot-2. He caught 55 passes for 811 yards last season for the Ole Miss Rebels and led the team with six receiving touchdowns. He also caught seven passes for 122 yards in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal upset against Georgia. Surely he can find a role in this efficient San Francisco 49ers offensive attack — and should have the opportunity, too. Really, his blocking ability and speed are enough for me and scream Kyle Shanahan offense. Like many, I wondered what the hell the 49ers were doing when his name was called. After I did a bit of research on someone I knew nothing about , I walked away saying this might end up being a steal. Kyle Shanahan is not one to throw his rookies into the fire unless absolutely necessary (and they are absolutely ready). Dajani makes a good point about injuries and the presence of Mike Evans at wide receiver. I wouldn’t be surprised if Evans is at least out for a good portion of a game or two during the season—which would open the door for Stribling. Plus, we don’t know who will fill the Kendrick Bourne/Jauan Jennings role this year, with both out of the mix. If Stribling is that guy, he’d be the highest pick spent on the role for Shanahan. It’s funny how on draft day many of us (myself included) were wondering what the 49ers were doing, but now, I, for one, am excited to see what this guy does in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. He could be the sleeper pick for Offensive Rookie of the Year. I just hope if he does win it, it’s by ability and production, not because of injuries and attrition
Former 49ers safety Donte Whitner predicts Kyle Shanahan's offense will be the number one in the NFL this season, highlighting the challenge of defending playmakers like Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Ricky Pearsall. The article also touches on the development of Jacob Cowing and the need for improved wide receiver play from Kendrick Bourne and Jauan Jennings, while noting a dip in Brock Purdy's intermediate attempts
The Arizona Cardinals had a very good draft this year. By taking RB Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick, all the tools that incoming head coach Mike LaFleur needs for his new offensive scheme are in place. LaFleur is an offensive coach and had particular requirements going into free agency and April’s draft. RELATED: ESPN RANKS CARDINALS #6 IN OFFENSIVE WEAPONS If you haven’t noticed, the Cardinals are stacked with offensive personnel. ESPN only brought that to everyone’s attention. Now, how will the changes alter the course of this year’s schedule and ultimately the win-loss column? WRs Kendrick Bourne and Devin Duvernay were signed in free agency, while another receiver, Reggie Virgil, was drafted out of Texas Tech. These will be melded with Michael Wilson , Marv Harrison, and Simi Fehoko . Of course, Arizona employs one of the best tight ends in the league with Trey McBride . But LaFleur’s offense needed some vagaries. Alterations. Modifications. Changes. Editor’s note: We had to look up “vagaries.” We just look smart. It all began with the offensive line. It had several issues. Right tackle was a particular problem. So were both offensive guard spots. Later, when LT Paris Johnson became injured, Kelvin Beachum was inserted. Ick. It’s no big secret why he is still unemployed. Both left and right guards were “no good.” Will Hernandez was supposed to start at right guard after returning to the roster, but he began the season on the PUP list as he got back to playing shape. Which seemed to be okay, because Isaiah Adams was the darling of the preseason and training camp and appeared to sew up the starting position. The plan was for Adams to be the starter at right guard and Evan Brown to be at the left guard spot until Hernandez was healthy, and then get him on the practice field and see where he was at physically. Adams started in Week 1. But it soon became clear that Adams played really well against other teams’ second and third string guys, but struggled when the big boys suited up. He was bull rushed easily and had an issue remaining engaged with his defender. It was just a few short seasons ago that Brown was an asset to the O-Line. But this past season, early on, he looked overwhelmed, and his on-field performance declined quite a bit. Brown was ranked the 61st-best guard out of 81 eligible players. He had family issues that needed his complete focus, but his play was just sub-par. When Hernandez returned and was ready to play, he supplanted Adams in Week 5, and it was deemed better late than never with the hope that the offensive line could recover. However, his comeback was cut short. He was placed on IR with hip and knee injuries on November 29. Adams was thrown back into the starting right guard position with an opportunity to show what he had learned since the beginning of the year and finish the season in the same role. With both guards playing poorly, Johnson and Williams were out at the tackle spots listed on IR. The offensive line was a combination of second-stringers and practice squad guys. At season’s end, this group was ranked #26. That’s out of 32 for anyone scoring at home. After losing 14 games, it was evident that the head coach and the majority of his coaching staff were headed for the unemployment line. LaFleur and his new OC, Nathaniel Hackett, took a looksy at the offensive line situation and highlighted several changes to be made. Center? Good. Left tackle? Check. Ummm…. Yeah, it was that bad. The offense will only go as far as the offensive line will take them. That is a known fact. It’s more than just being big. It’s greater than being a stud in college football. The NFL is a completely different level, and offensive linemen take a while to grow into their positions. Defensive tackles are bigger and, over time, develop girth. Defensive ends are quicker with a great first step. In college, some of these guys saw maybe three defenders that they struggled with. In the NFL, t
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We knew the San Francisco 49ers would draft a wide receiver based on their pre-draft visits . Yet, despite not meeting with John Lynch or Kyle Shanahan, the team traded out of the first round to acquire a couple of more picks to select “their guy.” Not Omar Cooper Jr. Not KC Concepcion. Not Chris Bell. De’Zhaun Stribling. That’s right, the player who was being mocked in the fourth round for much of the draft cycle ended up being the Niners first selection. Think about the wide receivers the 49ers fielded last year. Demarcus Robinson , Jauan Jennings , and Kendrick Bourne — not exactly a group that was the fleetest of foot. The lack of separation hindered the offense in multiple ways. A Kyle Shanahan offense couldn’t stretch the field or win outside of the numbers. Now think about the 49ers using those players in the formation as run blockers. There is no world where Christian McCaffrey should only average 3.1 yards per carry rushing outside of the tackles. For reference, in 2023, McCaffrey averaged seven yards per carry outside of the tackles. Last season, that number was more than halved. And it wasn’t because of Colton McKivitz or Trent Williams . Enter a wideout whose father was in the military, who happens to be a shade over 6’2″ with hands creeping up on DeForest Buckner . Oh, and he runs a 4.3 40. Age: 23 Experience: Rookie Height: 6’2 Weight: 207 pounds The 49ers valued extra draft picks over a fifth-year option of Stribling. His protated signing bonus is $1.54 million over each of the next four seasons. Stribling’s cap number will never exceed $4.5 million during his rookie contract. The obvious comparison for Stribling is that he’ll be a 1-for-1 replacement for Jauan Jennings. To me, that’s selling him short. I think it’s more likely Stribling is closer to Deebo Samuel ’s production during his tenure with the Niners than Jennings. Deebo moved around the formation, lined up in the backfield, and saw his route tree evolve. That wasn’t the case with Jennings, who didn’t offer much outside of the numbers. Deebo hit the ground running as a rookie, albeit in a much different offense. Samuel had 959 yards from scrimmage during his first year with six touchdowns. Samuel accomplished that without needing a ton of volume, which is a good sign if we’re projecting numbers for Stribling. The rookie will be behind Mike Evans , Ricky Pearsall , George Kittle , and Christian McCaffrey on the receiving totem pole. But his skill set should keep Stribling on the field. Stribling can run the deep in-breaking routes that the offense couldn’t run last season. He’s also a threat on back-shoulder fades. Ole Miss used Stribling occasionally on jet sweeps. That’s part of the playbook that was crossed off last season. When you break it down to the different areas the 49ers couldn’t attack last season, it’s pretty easy to see why they went out and drafted a player like Stribling. He gets to learn under Evans, and is also insurance if the top two wideouts get hurt. Speaking of, Stribling doesn’t have an extensive injury history. His availability is another trait that made him attractive to the 49ers. Stribling broke his left wrist during Oklahoma State’s bye week in 2023. But outside of that, he was durable during his collegiate days. The Niners are hoping that continues as a pro, so they can lean on his height-weight-speed combo in both the running and passing games. Predict Stribling’s rookie stat line below
At various points in 2025, the San Francisco 49ers offense was carried by Brock Purdy , Kyle Shanahan, and Christian McCaffrey . Injuries took a toll on both sides of the ball, but there were times when Mac Jones was throwing the football to Jake Tonges , Demarcus Robinson , and Kendrick Bourne . The constants were Shanahan and McCaffrey. Although McCaffrey didn’t run efficiently, he more than made up for it with his receiving ability. Oftentimes, it was the CMC show, and when Purdy returned, the offense took off as the 49ers ripped off wins before clinching a playoff berth. The trio of Shanahan, Purdy, and McCaffrey simply needs to return to the form of 2025 for the 49ers offense to put up points. There is no predicting injuries in the NFL, but what if I told you the most important 49ers weapon is Mike Evans in 2026? Let’s get the obvious out of the way: nobody is more important to the 49ers’ success than the quarterback. McCaffrey will be leaned on again without proven, reliable depth behind him. Shanahan’s playcalling is the ultimate advantage for the 49ers. However, Evans is the most important weapon, given the questions around Ricky Pearsall , the newest weapons, and George Kittle heading into 2026. When the 49ers take on the Rams in Australia in Week 1, Evans needs to hit the ground running. Los Angeles loaded up on cornerbacks; Evans has to tip the scales back to the 49ers. The skill set of the former Buccaneers great and Purdy should blend seamlessly. Throughout 2026, Evans has to be a constant and a rock for the offense. Now, let’s envision the worst-case scenario and McCaffrey misses games in 2026. Shanahan has been able to create a running game with other running backs, so Jordan James or Kaelon Black will be put in a position to succeed. However, it would fall on Evans to carry more of the workload and become the red zone weapon that McCaffrey was. Unfortunately, the 49ers can’t have a slow start from Evans. Of course, optimism is high for Pearsall in year three, the return of Kittle, and the infusion of rookie De’Zhaun Stribling and veteran Christian Kirk , but there are questions surrounding them all. Evans has to be a constant force for the offense. The veteran will be looked to for guidance by the younger receivers, but more for instant production. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding Evans during the season, the future Hall of Famer is vital and imperative to the 49ers’ offense and success. The match between Evans, Purdy, and Shanahan’s offense is a dream. The results must bear themselves out immediately and throughout the 2026 season. For a longer discussion and other players who need to step up in 2026, Steph Sanchez and I discuss at length in the video below:
Jake Tonges, a backup tight end for the San Francisco 49ers, took advantage of opportunities in 2025 due to injuries, recording multiple six-plus catch games and a career-best performance against the Chicago Bears. Despite being a backup to George Kittle, Tonges' affordable contract and potential for increased playing time make him an interesting asset for the 49ers' offense, particularly in schemes utilizing two tight ends
by Ari Koslow | Cardinals Correspondent | Tue, Jun 9th 10:17pm EDT Trey Benson was working off to the side during mandatory minicamp on Tuesday. ( Theo Mackie on Twitter ) Fantasy Impact: Benson was also working off to the side during OTAs. He'll likely be off the fantasy radar with the Cardinals offseason additions of Jeremiyah Love and Tyler Allgeier. Participation report from Cardinals mandatory minicamp: Didn’t see at all: -RB James Conner -DL Kaleb Proctor Street clothes: -CB Garrett Williams -S Kitan Crawford -TE Tip Reiman -DL Walter Nolen Working on side w/ trainers: -RB Trey Benson -LB Karson Sharar Category: Injury Updates | More Trey Benson : News , Rankings , Projections , Stats
by Ari Koslow | Cardinals Correspondent | Tue, Jun 2nd 11:44pm EDT Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur said Marvin Harrison Jr. will play the Davante Adams role as the team’s X-receiver. ( Theo Mackie on Twitter ) Fantasy Impact: LaFleur has spent the past three years as the Rams offensive coordinator and figures to bring a lot of what he learned under Sean McVay to the Cardinals offense. This could benefit Harrison's involvement in the red zone the most as we saw from Adams last season in the same spot. Mike LaFleur said Marv will play the Davante Adams role as the X receiver, with Michael Wilson “closer to the core” in the Puka Nacua role as the Z receiver. Also sounds like Kendrick Bourne will see more work in the slot than he has in the past. More Marvin Harrison Jr. : News , Rankings , Projections , Stats
Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur said that wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. will play the Davante Adams role as the X receiver in 2026, with Michael Wilson "closer to the core" in the Puka Nacua role as the Z receiver, according to Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic. It also sounds as though Kendrick Bourne will see more work in the slot than he has in the past. Harrison, the fourth overall pick in 2024 out of Ohio State, has caught 103 of his 189 targets for 1,493 yards and 12 touchdowns in his first two years in the league, but as the No. 1 wideout taken in his draft class, he has yet to live up to his sky-high expectations. The son of former Colts receiver Marvin Harrison played in only 12 games in 2025 and missed the regular-season finale with a foot injury. He's reportedly fully healthy going into Year 3 and will come at a discount in redraft leagues after his injury-plagued 2025 campaign. With Wilson and tight end Trey McBride ascending, and in an offense that will focus much more on the run this year, Harrison has fallen to No. 34 in RotoBaller's single-season WR rankings for the upcoming 2026 season
The San Francisco 49ers’ official schedule is out. No more leaks , although they were spot on once again. The 49ers will travel to the East Coast twice this season. They’re fortunate enough to have a bye week after one of those trips, while the second one is sandwiched in between home games against the Seahawks and the Rams. When you go through the schedule, it’s not a stretch to see this team winning double-digit games. That’s easy to say of May. The 49ers will drop a game or two they have no business losing, and will likely pull off a victory when their backs are against the wall. Let’s walk through the entire schedule. It’s a shame this will be an international game. We’re talking about two of the best teams in the league in arguably the best division in football. This game will be somewhat of a showcase offensively with Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay calling plays on each sideline. Brock Purdy will have some new toys to play with. He didn’t play against the Rams last season. Los Angeles also didn’t have to deal with Mike Evans , De’Zhaun Stribling, or Christian Kirk . This is a secondary that made Kendrick Bourne look like Anquan Boldin . The Rams will be much better in the secondary with Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson , both of whom were on the Chiefs last season. The 49ers’ home opener comes against Malik Willis and Miami . Willis’s targets consist of Jalen Tolbert , Tutu Atwell , Malik Washington , and a pair of rookie third-rounders. The Dolphins are also breaking in rookie Kadyn Proctor, although he’s playing next to an All-Pro center. It should be a relatively soft landing spot in the home opener for Purdy and company. The Dolphins’ secondary consists of four journeymen and first-rounder Chris Johnson. There are a pair of first-round defensive linemen to deal with, but this is not a team that should contend in 2026. Win your home games. Win your home divisional games. That should be the motto for the 49ers in 2026. They’ll have a great opportunity to get off to a 2-0 start at home. The Cardinals added a couple of veterans in free agency defensively, but only added two Day 3 picks to a defense that finished sixth-worst in the NFL in EPA per play with the fifth-lowest sack percentage. Arizona added Jeremiyah Love and Chase Bisontis on offense. They also signed Isaac Seumalo to bolster their offensive line and Tyler Allgeier to improve the backfield. It’s hard to imagine this team getting enough stops to contend with the upper-echelon teams of the league, even with an electric rookie like Love. The third consecutive game at Levi’s Stadium comes against the team that probably felt that it should’ve made the Super Bowl last season. Denver ’s big offseason acquisition was trading for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle . Aside from losing Dre Greenlaw , the Broncos’ roster remains unchanged. Bo Nix gets another weapon, but that offense was tough to watch last season. Will Waddle make that much of a difference? The Broncos were lights out defensively in 2025, but defense doesn’t always carry over. I think the Broncos take a step back in 2026. With that said, this’ll be a tremendous challenge for San Francisco’s wideouts. The second road game of the season comes against the reigning Super Bowl champs. Of the top teams in the NFC West, Seattle feels like the obvious candidate to regress. They replaced Kenneth Walker with first-rounder Jadarian Price. The starting free safety might be a second-round rookie. Seattle’s defense was otherworldly last season. They got by offensively with one threat in the passing game. They also lost their offensive coordinator. That’s not to say this won’t be an above-average team. Scoring a touchdown would be a step in the right direction for the 49ers against Seattle. The new weapons should allow that to happen. Another home game for the 49ers. May this one come against Brandon Aiyuk ? That would make for a fascinating matchup on Monday Night Football. Jayden Daniels would certainly appr
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