The Cardinals’ encouraging start continues to fade into the rearview, and now the projections are back where they began.
Arizona is the new favorite to claim the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, the title it held heading into the season.
The Cardinals (1-7) have dropped five consecutive games and now have the worst record in the NFL after their Week 8 loss to the Ravens was coupled with an upset victory by the previously-winless Panthers.
The teams each have one victory, but Arizona has one extra loss because it hasn’t yet had a bye week.
Here is a look at the odds to claim the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, courtesy of FTN Fantasy:
- Arizona Cardinals, 29.7%
- Carolina Panthers, 25.7%
- Chicago Bears, 15.7%
- New York Giants, 13.3%
- Green Bay Packers, 4.5%
The Bears hold both their own first-rounder and the Panthers’ by virtue of the Bryce Young trade, so they have the highest percentage chance to claim it, but the Cardinals now lead among individual teams.
Arizona looked good through four games but has regressed over the past four, losing them by a combined 48 points.
Embrace it pic.twitter.com/DpescCra6F
— Kyle Odegard (@Kyle_Odegard) October 29, 2023
The Cardinals’ schedule eases up following a road game this week against the Browns, which could coincide with the return of star quarterback Kyler Murray.
So Arizona’s chances of winning games will improve in the back-half of the schedule, but the defense is still among the worst in the NFL, and the Cardinals will be underdogs in the majority of their games down the stretch.
USC quarterback Caleb Williams is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, though North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye has gained ground on him in recent weeks.
While there is still a long way to go, the Cardinals are back in the mix to pick No. 1 overall, a place many thought they would be following Murray’s injury and an offseason of tanking.
