March 2, 2026, 9:29 p.m. MT
The 2026 league year is coming up very soon. It officially begins at 1 p.m. Arizona time on March 11, with the legal negotiating period beginning on March 9 at 9 a.m. Arizona time.
The Arizona Cardinals have several roster decisions to make before then.
Leading up to the new league year, we will profile every player on the roster, go over what they did last season, what their contract status is and what they face in 2026.
Next up is linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither.
Akeem Davis-Gaither 2025 season
Davis-Gaither had a solid 2025 as one of 16 position players that played all 17 games. He had 13 starts and was second on the team with 99 tackles and third with 42 solo stops. There were also one interception, five passes defensed and four tackles for loss while playing 781 snaps (68 percent). On special teams, he was the team leader in both tackles (20) and solos (16), playing 189 snaps (42 percent).
Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!Akeem Davis-Gaither contract status
In the final season of a two-year deal, his scheduled salary is $4.39 million with a cap charge of $6.695 million that includes a $500,000 play-time incentive reached last season.
Akeem Davis-Gaither offseason outlook
Listed frequently as a possible candidate to be released, the dead money would be $2 million, which is a cap savings of $4.695 million. With Nick Rallis returning as defensive coordinator and not a lot of current depth at inside linebacker, it’s not inconceivable that Davis-Gaither could remain on the roster at least through the free-agent signing period and possibly after the draft.
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