With Murray healthy, the Cardinals improved after two dismal seasons

The Arizona Cardinals didn't wow anyone this season, but showed enough progress to give fans hope for the future.

Catch up quick: The Cards seemed poised to improve after back-to-back 4-13 seasons.

• Quarterback Kyler Murray came into the season healthy after an ACL tear that sidelined him for much of the past two years.
• Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. came into the season as Arizona's most hyped draft pick probably since the legendary Larry Fitzgerald.
• Still, Arizona was projected to finish last in the NFC West.

State of play: The Cards didn't make the playoffs but weren't at the bottom of the division either, finishing third in the NFC West with an 8-9 record.

• Midway through the season, Arizona even led the division but dropped out of first place after a 2-5 finish.
• Murray started all 17 games and passed for 3,851 yards — the second-highest total of his career — with 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
• Harrison wasn't a superstar or even the team's leading receiver, but had a respectable 885 receiving yards.

What they're saying: Head coach Jonathan Gannon called his second season with the team a "good learning experience" but said after the team's season-ending win over the San Francisco 49ers: "I made a lot of mistakes. So you just try to learn and move on and do better the next time."

• "We've definitely made some strides but I don't think we're where we want to be yet," said tight end Trey McBride.

What's next: Arizona has the 16th pick in the NFL Draft in April and about $85 million in salary cap space, giving the Cards plenty of room to maneuver in free agency.

• The Cards' biggest needs are at edge rusher, cornerback, guard, linebacker and right tackle, per Bleacher Report.
• Arizona will also have to decide whether to re-sign linebackers Kyzir White and Mack Wilson Sr. and offensive lineman Evan Brown.

1 big re-signing: It wasn't out of the question that this would be safety Budda Baker's last season in the desert, but the Cards signed him to a three-year, $54 million contract extension.

• Baker notched his seventh Pro Bowl selection this season.