The Arizona Cardinals have a big need at outside linebacker to improve their pass rush. Zaven Collins led the team in 2024 with only five sacks. Almost the entire group will be free agents next month.
So it is natural that pass rushers will be an area fans will focus on for the NFL draft.
One pass-rushing prospect is super intriguing — Marshall’s Mike Green.
The nation’s leader with 17 sacks in 2024, he also had a great week at the Senior Bowl and many believe he will be drafted in the first round in April.
Which teams are the best fit for him?
According to The Draft Network’s Justin Melo, the Cardinals are one of three great fits.
The Arizona Cardinals have conducted a multi-year-long search for a difference-making pass rusher. They drafted BJ Ojulari two years ago, who suffered a summer season-ending injury. They also selected Darius Robinson in the first round of 2024, but he spent the majority of his rookie campaign sidelined.
Head coach Jonathan Gannon is a defensive-minded leader. General manager Monti Ossenfort must continue drafting pass rushers until he gets it right. No Cardinals pass rusher had more than five sacks this past season. A ton of their veteran edge defenders are scheduled for free agency, including Dennis Gardeck, Baron Browning, Julian Okwara, and LJ Collier. Green should appear on their shortlist of potential targets at No. 16 overall.
Green is 6-foot-3 and 251 pounds. Comparatively, BJ Ojulari is 6-foot-2 and 256 pounds, so the concerns about length and size are not something the Cardinals view as critical.
Early in the draft season, it feels like Green would be a great fit. We will see if the Cardinals pull the trigger in April if he is available.
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