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Larry Fitzgerald signed a four-year deal in the spring that keeps him with the Cardinals through 2011.

EXPERTS' PICKS

The Cardinals finished second in the NFC West last season with a 8-8 record. For NFC West coverage, visit Mike Sando's NFC West blog. | Discuss Cardinals | MAG preview

ANALYST	PREDICTION
Jeffri Chadiha ESPN.com	DIVISION FINISH: 2  The Cardinals lost six games by a touchdown or less and still finished 8-8. They could surprise people if they manage to perform better in the clutch.
John Clayton ESPN.com	DIVISION FINISH: 2  Anquan Boldin isn't talking to Ken Whisenhunt because he's mad about being underpaid compared to teammate Larry Fitzgerald. On a team ready to make a run at the NFC West title, maybe Whisenhunt should talk Matt Leinart into throwing a kegger so everyone can get along.
Tim Graham ESPN.com	DIVISION FINISH: 2  The division is so bad one of the NFL's perennial doormats can rebound and contend with the Seahawks if they get good play from old man Kurt Warner and the defense comes together.
Jeremy Green Scouts Inc.	DIVISION FINISH: 2  Every year I talk about how the Cardinals are ready to break through and become a playoff team. However, I am not going to fall into that trap this season in a much-improved NFC. This team just does not know how to win.
Paul Kuharsky ESPN.com	DIVISION FINISH: 2  If you pick the Cardinals to emerge as a contender every year, eventually you have to be right, right? They were close in a lot of games last year, and I actually think Matt Leinart will get it together somewhere along the way.
Matt Mosley ESPN.com	DIVISION FINISH: 2  Is this the year? I certainly wouldn't count on it. One of the best sets of receivers in the league and an underrated defense. Still adds up to another .500 season in my book.
Mike Sando ESPN.com	DIVISION FINISH: 2  The Cardinals have a chance to secure a playoff berth this season if they can hang on through a difficult seven-game stretch to end the season. Depth on the offensive line remains a concern.
Kevin Seifert ESPN.com	DIVISION FINISH: 2  The Cardinals clearly are going in the right direction. Newcomer Travis LaBoy should further fortify the defense.
James Walker ESPN.com	DIVISION FINISH: 2  Veteran signal-caller Kurt Warner may be the best fit over Matt Leinart. But Arizona won't be able to compete with the Seattle Seahawks at the top of the division no matter who's at quarterback.
Seth Wickersham ESPN The Magazine	DIVISION FINISH: 4  Kurt Warner is clearly the best executor of Ken Whisenhunt's offense. Warner, however, isn't the long-term answer. And unless Matt Leinart improves, he might not be either.
Bill Williamson ESPN.com	DIVISION FINISH: 2  Every year, the pundits expect the Cardinals to break through. This season is no different. With a good coaching staff and some intriguing offensive weapons, perhaps this is the season the Cardinals get it done. Or perhaps not.
Matt Williamson Scouts Inc.	DIVISION FINISH: 1  A surprise team, Arizona is going to boast one of the best defenses in the league. Yes, that's right. This is a defense that is primed to explode. It doesn't matter who is throwing the ball, Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald will keep defenses honest.
Pat Yasinskas ESPN.com	DIVISION FINISH: 2  Every year, I want to take the Cardinals out of the cellar and don't. This year will be the exception. Part of it is I believe Arizona has some of the best wide receivers in the league and part of it is I believe this is the best coaching staff the Cardinals ever have had.
	CONSENSUS DIVISION FINISH: 2 | NFL standings

BEST OF THE CARDINALS

Best omen: Pro Bowl receiver Larry Fitzgerald has been working on the finer points of his game since signing a $40 million contract during the offseason. Fitzgerald specifically wants to become more consistent as a route-runner. It's always good when a team's best players work to get better.

Best off the tee: Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt threatens par on the golf course when he isn't buried in X's and O's. Growing up in Augusta, Ga., he operated scoreboards at The Masters during his formative years.

Best injury explanation: Nose tackle Gabe Watson suffered a broken kneecap this offseason in a freak accident involving a treadmill at a Tempe-area health club. Beats drowning on a rowing machine.

-- Mike Sando, ESPN.com

SCOUTS INC.'S FAB FIVE

Scouts Inc. has evaluated and graded more than 2,400 NFL players heading into the 2008 season, giving Insiders a leg up on the competition with exclusive grades, alerts and scouting reports.
Top five players	ANALYSIS
1. Adrian Wilson Safety 6-3 | 230	(Grade 90) He has rare measurables for the position and definitely looks the part. He has the kind of speed, size, strength and explosiveness that is hard to find. He is not a liability in coverage, but he's much better in run support.
2. Karlos Dansby Linebacker 6-4 | 250	(86) He is explosive, fills the hole with a burst and looks to punish on tackles. Dansby appears to be maturing with the new coaching staff and could be on the verge of a breakout season.
3. Larry Fitzgerald Wide receiver 6-3 | 220	(85) He has quickly become one of the elite receivers in the NFL. He has excellent size for the position and rare quickness, agility and body control for a big receiver.
4. Anquan Boldin Wide receiver 6-1 | 217	(85) He is a big, tough and competitive receiver. He makes an excellent No. 2 receiver and is willing to do the dirty work, like going across the middle or clearing an area for the other receivers.
5. Darnell Dockett Defensive tackle 6-4 | 285	(77) He is an easy mover who is fluid, quick, explosive and can redirect or change directions very quickly. He does a good job of locating the level of the ball and will fight pressure to work his way to the play.
Player grading scale: Elite (90-100), outstanding (80-89), solid starter (75-79), good starter (70-74)

SCOUTS INC.'S ANALYSIS

Best play option WR Anquan Boldin isn't afraid to go over the middle, and here's how the Cardinals use that talent to their advantage. More best plays

Strengths

Excellent receiver corps: The combination of Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin creates problems for defenses vertically and underneath coverage. Each has the size, hands and adjustment skills to make big plays against the league's best defenders. Fitzgerald led the NFC in receptions and receiving yards in 2007, and Boldin is an excellent possession receiver who is exceptionally tough after the catch.

Red-zone efficiency: Last season the Cardinals had one of the league's most productive offenses inside the 20. The team's playmakers are especially difficult to match up with in the red zone. Boldin and Fitzgerald force opponents to stay honest in coverage, making defenses pay for sending an extra pass-rusher. RB Edgerrin James and a strong offensive line are solid against seven-man fronts in the run game.

Creative and versatile offense: Coach Ken Whisenhunt is a gifted playcaller who mixes things up between the run and pass. He isn't afraid to take chances and he gives new looks each week to force opponents to prepare for the unexpected. He also shows a willingness to adapt to his personnel, which means the Cardinals could become more physical and improve a run game that ranked 29th in the league last season.

Weaknesses

Running back depth: If James suffers an injury, the Cardinals are in trouble. A workhorse who ran for 1,222 yards last season, he has a tough running style that can soften up a defense. Though he doesn't break away for many long gains, James is a consistent chain-mover. His presence would be sorely missed if he wound up sitting out for an extended stretch.

Clarity at quarterback: This was Matt Leinart's job to lose. And it looks like he has lost it to Kurt Warner. Warner brings stability to the offense, but he's 37 and prone to turnovers. The Cardinals were hoping Leinart would respond to the challenge in the preseason and show that he's developing into a franchise player. Instead, he has invited more questions about whether he should be the team's quarterback of the future.

Special teams: Arizona struggled in nearly every aspect of the kicking game in 2007. The team counts on K Neil Rackers from deep, but he missed six of nine kicks from 50 yards and beyond last year (after missing six of seven in 2006). The Cardinals also finished last in the league in net punting (32.0 yards) and had an NFL-worst 25 penalties. P Dirk Johnson and the coverage units must show improvement, too. The silver lining: There's nowhere to go but up.

-- Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles.