Cardinals joint practice with Broncos biggest test yet ahead of 2025 season

What Cardinals need to look out for against Broncos:

Arizona is trying to follow the same formula as Denver the past few years. After averaging six wins from 2018-2022, the Broncos had a respectable 8-9 2023, that led the way to add rookie sensation Bo Nix in the draft. In his rookie season, he led his team to a 10-7 record and the first postseason berth since 2015.

The Cardinals comparison to Nix is the stacked defensive draft class taken this past April. Walter Nolen, Will Johnson, Jordan Burch and more were taken by the franchise to bolster up a defense that has had to do a lot with a little over the past few years. However, the new prospects and the addition of Pro Bowlers like Josh Sweat and Calais Campbell will be tested against a top-1o scoring offense last year.

Eyes will be set on how quarterback Kyler Murray responds to a preseason opener that led to more questions than answers. After throwing a pick in his first offensive possession, Murray seemed to calm down against the Chiefs. However, this week isn’t any easier with the third-best scoring defense and rushing defense in the NFL.

Arizona’s offensive line will be challenged against Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper, who combined for 24 of the team’s league-leading 63 sacks. Head coach Jonathan Gannon called center Hjalte Froholdt the glue of the offense, and his young offensive lineman will have its plate full against the league’s best pass rush.

The secondary isn’t any easier for the Cardinals to crack, as the Broncos are headed by the defensive player of the year in cornerback Pat Surtain. The fifth-year cornerback will surely be assigned Arizona’s second-year wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who will put his new physique to the test.

This three-day stretch of the joint practice and the preseason game on Saturday, will illustrate whether the Cardinals are prepared to make the jump to contender that the Broncos were able to do last season. If not, it could be a confidence killer that the team can’t recover from ahead of next month’s season opener.