Arizona's Odds Are Brutal: +2000 to Miss the Playoffs, and Vegas Isn't Wrong

The 2026 NFL offseason is officially in the books. Free agency is done. The draft is over. Every team knows what they're working with, and for most franchises around the league, it's time to get to work and see what sticks. But for one team in particular, Vegas has already drawn some pretty grim conclusions about how this season is going to play out.

The Arizona Cardinals just got handed the longest odds to make the playoffs in the entire NFL. We're talking +2000. That's not a typo. That's the worst shot in professional football right now, according to Pro Football Talk.

What Did Arizona Actually Do This Offseason?

To understand why Vegas is this pessimistic, you have to look at what the Cardinals actually committed to. They grabbed running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3 overall in the draft. They also added another quarterback to the room in Carson Beck. Sound like a championship roster? Yeah, didn't think so.

Here's the thing: the Cardinals aren't building for 2026. They're preparing for 2027. Everyone in the front office knows they need to find their franchise quarterback, and they're willing to take a loss this season to position themselves for that opportunity next year. That's not a recipe for playoff football.

The Setup for Next Season Starts Now

Some teams made real moves to compete. Others added intriguing pieces that could shape their future. The Cardinals? They're in full tank mode, whether they want to admit it or not. Vegas saw it clearly, and the oddsmakers don't mess around with these things.

If Arizona is truly going to spend 2026 as a development year, those +2000 odds might even be generous.

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