Vegas Just Made the Cardinals the League's Biggest Longshot, and It's Not Even Close

The NFL offseason is officially in the books. Free agency is done. The draft is done. Teams are locking in their rosters and getting ready for what could be a wild 2026 season. Some franchises nailed their moves and got better. Others picked up intriguing pieces to build something solid down the line. And then there's Arizona.

The Cardinals just got the longest odds to make the playoffs in the entire NFL, and the betting markets are basically saying what everyone already knows: this team is in trouble.

Arizona's Odds Tell the Story

According to Pro Football Talk, Arizona's betting odds to make the playoffs sit at +2000, the longest shot in the entire league. That's not a close call. That's Vegas essentially writing off the Cardinals' 2026 season before a single snap gets played in anger.

Even with some moves on the board, the Cardinals clearly haven't done enough to field a competitive roster. Yes, they added running back Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 pick in the draft. Yes, they brought in another quarterback to the room in Carson Beck. But here's the thing: none of that changes the fundamental reality that Arizona is likely spending this entire season as a springboard to find their franchise quarterback in the 2027 draft.

Building for Next Year, Not This Year

This is the trap so many rebuilding teams fall into. You make moves, you add draft picks, you tell yourself you're getting better. But if you don't have your quarterback, if you don't have that foundational piece that changes everything, you're basically treading water. Arizona knows it. Vegas knows it. And now everyone else does too.

The Cardinals have officially hit the reset button. This season is about gathering tape, evaluating talent, and positioning themselves for a real run at a franchise QB next April. It's not sexy. It's not fun for Cardinals fans right now. But it's honest, and the oddsmakers are reflecting that reality in brutal fashion.

Arizona's got a long road ahead before they're back in the playoff conversation.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.