Cards need to add some star power to their defensive front 7
Last night at State Farm Stadium, thousands of Los Angeles Rams’ fans were thanking Michael Bidwill and the Arizona Cardinals for taking such good care of them during their time of dire need and utter despair. (see photo above)
Now perhaps, thanks to the 27-9 licking the Rams put on the suddenly woeful Vikings, the Cardinals can thank the Rams for laying out the blueprint for what Monti Ossenfort and Dave Sears need to accomplish this off-season.
Adding star-quality talent to the defensive line.
It’s frustrating to think this, but in light of the Cardinals having no blue-chip player in their front seven on defense, in the 2024 NFL Draft they could have been the team to select DE Jared Verse and DT Braden Fiske. Wouldn’t you know that as soon as Les Snead finally had a 1st round pick to work with, he tabbed DE Jared Verse, the only rookie defensive player in the NFL to make the Pro Bowl.
Look at this drafting coup that Les Snead has created over the past two drafts —- knowing that All-Century DT Aaron Donald was going to retire and that DE Von Miller was just a short-term get you a Super Bowl ring rental.
- 2023 R3 – Pick #77 : Byron Young, ED, Tennessee —- 2024 stats: 52 QB pressures, 7.5 sacks
- 2023 R3 – Pick #89: Kobie Turner, DT, Wake Forest —- 2024 stats: 59 QB pressures, 8.0 sacks
- 2024 R1: Pick #19: Jared Verse, ED, Florida St. —- 2024 stats: 84 QB pressures, 4.5 sacks
- 2024 R2: Pock #39: Braden Fiske, DT, Florida St. —- 2024 stats: 57 QB pressures, 8.5 sacks
Think the Rams have always been serious about their pass rush?
By comparison, here are Monti Ossenfort and Dave Sears’ draft picks the past two years at ED and DT:
- 2023 R2 – Pick #41: B.J. Ojulari, ED, LSU —- 2024 – IR; 2023 stats: 20 QB Pressures, 4.0 sacks
- 2023 R6 -Pick #213: Dante Stills, DT/DE, West Virginia —- 2024 stats: 22 QB pressures, 4.5 sacks
- 2024 R1 – Pick #27: Darius Robinson, DT/DE, Missouri —- 2024 stats: 2 QB pressures, 1.0 sack
- 2024 R5 – Pick #138: Xaxier Thomas, ED, Clemson —- 2024 stats: 11 QB pressures, 2.5 sacks
ROTB Question: how would you compare and contrast the Rams’ and Cardinals’ picks at ED and DT?
Thus far, unfortunately, MODS’s UFA highest-profile signees at DT (Bilal Nichols and Justin Jones) have not worked out due to early, season-ending injuries. The most productive of the DTs MODS have signed:
- Roy Lopez —- 2024 stats: 10 solo tackles, 18 QB pressures, 1.0 sack
- Naquan Jones —- 2024 stats: 11 solo tackles, 9 QB pressures, 3.0 sacks
As for the Cardinals’ most productive edges:
- Zaven Collins —- 2024 stats: 33 solo tackles, 31 QB pressures, 5.0 sacks
- Dennis Gardeck —- 2024 stats: 17 solo tackles, 12 QB pressures, 3.0 sacks
- Baron Browning —- 2024 stats: 12 solo tackles, 20 QB pressures, 2.0 sacks
Cardinals’ Draft/Free Agent Priorities: Defensive Front 7
- ED
- DT
- LB
2025 Free Agency/2025 Draft Approach:.
ROTB Question: do you think this time around, with the 5th most cap space in the NFL at $72M, the Cardinals should swing for the fences in free agency to try to outbid the field on a couple of star defensive players? Or —- do you think the Cardinals should try to keep their 5 draft picks and try to hit home runs in each round?
Check out these 2025 UFA position rankings/listings from Underdog Network
2025 NFL Free Agents – Top 10 At Every Position | Underdog Network
2025 NFL Free Agents – EDGE
- Josh Sweat – 28yo with 12% pressure rate in 16 games with PHI.
- Khalil Mack – 34yo is average pass rusher, physical run stopper.
- Demarcus Lawrence – 33yo missed ‘24 (foot). Physical Pro Bowler.
- Chase Young – 11% pressure in rebound season (knee dislocation).
- Dante Fowler – 12% pressure led to 10.5 sacks. 31yo still some.
- Dayo Odeyingbo – 12 sacks in ‘23. 11% pressures in ‘24. Big EDGE.
- Malcolm Koonce – 2024 pre-season ACL tear hides 8 sacks in ‘23.
- Matt Judon – Sacks per game: NE (0.84), ATL (0.32). Now 33yo.
- Hasson Reddick – Lit millions on fire with holdout. Then 1.0 sacks.
- Baron Browning – 26yo had 2.0 sacks in 8 games with Cardinals.
- K’Lavon Chaisson – 26yo ex-1st rounder had career-best 5.0 sacks.
- Azeez Ojulari – 11% pressure in age-24 year. 6.0 sacks in 11 games.
- Joe Tryon-Shoyinka – 26yo 32nd-overall pick maxed at 5.0 sacks.
- Darrell Taylor – 28yo with 3.0+ sacks in all 4 years. 2nd rounder.
- Charles Omenihu – Only 6 regular season games. Had a nice ‘23.
- Marcus Davenport – Only 6 games in last 2 years. 29yo with upside.
- Cut candidates: Preston Smith (possible), Samson Ebukam (likely), Von Miller (likely), Jadeveon Clowney (likely), Tyquan Lewis (possible)
- Trade candidates: Trey Hendrickson (doubtful), Bryce Huff (possible), Joey Bosa (possible)
2025 NFL Free Agents – DT
- DT Milton Williams – DT5 in Pass Rush Win Rate. 13% pressure. 26yo.
- 3T Osa Odighizuwa – DT12 in PRWR. 11% pressure. 27yo.
- 3T Javon Hargrave – 7+ sacks in 3-straight. Then torn triceps. 32yo.
- 3T Javon Kinlaw – DT15 in PRWR. 8% pressure. 27yo 1st-rounder.
- NT D.J. Jones – DT2 in Run Stop Win Rate. 6% pressure. Nose.
- NT B.J. Hill – 50+ tackles and 3+ sacks in 4-straight. Versatile 30yo.
- 3T Levi Onwuzurike – 10% pressure. 27yo ex-2nd rounder. Lighter.
- DT Jarran Reed – 11% pressure and 4.5 sacks. 32yo.
- NT Benito Jones – 8% pressure at 335 pounds. 27yo.
- NT Folorunso Fatukasi – 30yo run stopper.
- 3T Calais Campbell – DT9 in PRWR as a 38yo on new team. Legend.
- DT Poona Ford – 7% pressure. Stocky 29yo.
- DT Sebastian Joseph-Day – 30yo has been on 3 teams in 2 years.
- NT Tershawn Wharton – 8% pressure as ex UDFA. 0-tech snaps on KC.
- 3T Solomon Thomas – 8% pressure. 30yo.
- Cut candidates: Grady Jarrett (possible), Denico Autry (possible), Sheldon Rankins (possible), Raekwon Davis (likely), Larry Ogunjobi (possible), A’Shawn Robinson (possible), Tim Settle (likely)
2025 NFL Free Agents – LB
- Zack Baun – 1st-Team All Pro in 1st season as off-ball LB. PHI gem.
- Tyrel Dodson – 27yo coverage LB. Career-high 107 tackles.
- Robert Spillane – Iffy coverage but he’ll hit you decent. 158 tackles.
- Nick Bolton – KC MLB. Search ”Bolton” from SullyFootball on X.
- Ernest Jones – 114+ tackles in 3-straight, but traded twice. 25yo.
- Jerome Baker – 5.75 tackles per game in 6-straight seasons. 28yo.
- Jamien Sherwood – 109 tackles, plus coverage in 1st starting year.
- Dre Greenlaw – 120+ tackles in 2022/23. Then torn achilles. 28yo.
- E.J. Speed – Coverage liability but had 103 tackles. Now 30yo.
- Lavonte David – 6 sacks in Bowles’ blitz scheme. Zone coverage.
- Bobby Wagner – 95 tackles, 3 sacks. Slow in coverage. 35yo.
- Cut candidates: Kenneth Murray (possible), Alex Singleton (likely), Cole Holcomb (likely)
2025 NFL Draft Prospects:
2025 Consensus Big Board | NFL Mock Draft Database
ED:
- Abdul CarterEDGE | Penn State
- Mykel WilliamsEDGE | Georgia
- James Pearce Jr.EDGE | Tennessee
- Nic ScourtonEDGE | Texas A&M
- Mike GreenEDGE | Marshall
- Princely UmanmielenEDGE | Mississippi
- Landon JacksonEDGE | Arkansas
- Jack SawyerEDGE | Ohio State
- J.T. TuimoloauEDGE | Ohio State
- Kyle KennardEDGE | South Carolina
- Donovan EzeiruakuEDGE | Boston College
DI:
- Mason GrahamDL | Michigan
- Kenneth GrantDL | Michigan
- Derrick HarmonDL | Oregon
- Walter NolenDL | Mississippi
- Shemar StewartDL | Texas A&M
- Tyleik WilliamsDL | Ohio State
- Deone WalkerDL | Kentucky
- Alfred CollinsDL | Texas
- T.J. SandersDL | South Carolina
- Omarr Norman-LottDL | Tennessee
LBs:
- Jalon WalkerLB | Georgia
- Jihaad CampbellLB | Alabama
- Danny StutsmanLB | Oklahoma2
- Barrett CarterLB | Clemson
- Chris Paul Jr.LB | Mississippi
- Carson SchwesingerLB | UCLA
- Lander BartonLB | Utah
- Jeffrey BassaLB | Oregon
- Jay HigginsLB | Iowa
- Smael Mondon Jr.LB | Georgia4
Blueprint Rough Draft:
UFAs:
- 34 DE Dayo Odeyingbo, 6-6, 286, Colts or Levi Onwuzurike, 6-3, 290, Lions
- ILB Ernest Jones, 6-2, 230, Seahawks
- ED K’Lavon Chaisson, 6-3, 245, Raiders
UFA Notes:
- Dayo or Onwu opposite Darius in Cardinals’ 34 would be so much fun and dynamic to watch.
- Jones has been a pesky nemesis for the Cardinals in run defense and pass coverage, let’s get him on our side and steal him away from Mike Macdonald.
- Chaisson looks like he’s on the verge of having a breakout season and could be electrifying to watch opposite fellow LSU Tiger B.J. Ojulari.
Draft Notes:
- Grant is huge and has exceptional feet and power.
- Green is a long lean sack machine.
- Jackson would look sweet at LG next to fellow Buckeye OL PJJ.
- Horton is the Trey McBride of WRs at Colorado St.
- No QB on the planet has thrown more to MHJ than Kyler McCord (St. Joseph’s Prep PA and Ohio St.) who is coming off a stellar, hugely productive year at Syracuse.
ROTB Question; That’s my initial blueprint. What’s yours?