April 26, 2025<\/a><\/p>\nSpeaking of Johnson, he easily marks Arizona\u2019s biggest addition at cornerback this offseason. If he can stay on the field \u2014 the cornerback does have an injury history \u2014 there\u2019s no doubt he could be among the biggest steals of the NFL Draft.<\/p>\n
Johnson has the makeup of a first-round talent, and given the added motivation he has after sliding down the draft order, things could get real interesting within Arizona\u2019s cornerbacks room.<\/p>\n
Third-round pick and Oregon alum Jordan Burch gives the Cardinals another body at the edge spot, while fourth-rounder Cody Simon provides Arizona with an heir apparent at inside linebacker.<\/p>\n
Then there\u2019s fifth-round pick and Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke bringing even more competition to the secondary.<\/p>\n
Safe to say defensive coordinator Nick Rallis has plenty of new chess pieces to work with.<\/p>\n
That being said, diving that far into the defensive side of the ball was necessarily the prerogative.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s just how it worked out. Wasn\u2019t the plan at all,\u201d Ossenfort said Saturday. \u201cIt\u2019s just one of those things where we stick to the philosophy of staying true to our board. I certainly would have loved to add some people on offense, but just the way it worked out.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were always going to take the guy who was higher on our board and it just so happened that six of the seven guys were on defense. Who knows next draft and how that\u2019ll go, but this draft it just leaned towards defense.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for the other side of the ball, the lack of additions means the franchise is comfortable with the makeup of the unit.<\/p>\n
That being said, if it can\u2019t deliver behind quarterback Kyler Murray and the weapons he has, there could be some major changes next offseason.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s go time for offensive coordinator Drew Petzing and Co.<\/p>\n
Where\u2019s more (offensive) beef?<\/p>\n
Bringing the defense along was the highest priority for the Cardinals this offseason and rightfully so.<\/p>\n
Sitting in the bottom half of the league in pass-rush and run-stop win rates isn\u2019t going to result in much success in the record book.<\/p>\n
The added beef up front this free agency and NFL Draft should help flip that trend.<\/p>\n
That being said, there are still question marks on the other side of the line.<\/p>\n
The biggest question revolves around the interior \u2014 even after the team added guard Hayden Conner in the sixth round.<\/p>\n
While Hjalte Froholdt and Evan Brown are expected to resume their starting roles, the spot opposite the latter is up for discussion.<\/p>\n
Given how the offseason has gone, all signs point to second-year pro Isaiah Adams stepping into a more prominent role, especially after turning in five starts and appearing in 100% of his available snaps to end last year.<\/p>\n
Jon Gaines II is the team\u2019s next-best option behind Brown and Adams, though he hasn\u2019t seen more than seven offensive snaps in a game since coming aboard in 2023 due to injury issues and placed on the depth chart.<\/p>\n
Maybe the Cardinals feel confident in Gaines taking that next step or that Conner can be the next man up. After all, they can play all three interior spots.<\/p>\n
Or maybe there\u2019s a certain re-signing yet to be made?<\/p>\n
The name to watch here is veteran Will Hernandez. The starting right guard had been the Cardinals\u2019 certified mauler along the interior since he got to town in 2022.<\/p>\n
Had it not been for a torn ACL suffered last October, he would have been among the most likely re-signing candidates this offseason.<\/p>\n
Instead, he\u2019s been on the mend since.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s unclear where he\u2019s at in his rehab process, but if healthy, Hernandez could be the answer to the interior OL needs.<\/p>\n
Guard isn\u2019t the only area that could use some reinforcements, either.<\/p>\n
While Paris Johnson Jr. is anchored in as the team\u2019s left tackle for years to come, the same can\u2019t be said on the right.<\/p>\n
Jonah Williams and Kelvin Beachum figure to compete for the starting role opposite Johnson in 2025. Beyond this year, though, things take a turn with both of them to become free agents.<\/p>\n
Second-year pro Christian Jones is another option, though he has just two games played (one start) under his belt. Free agent addition Jake Curhan could also be in the mix.<\/p>\n
Still, some additional assets to the room wouldn\u2019t hurt.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s getting crowded!<\/p>\n
If there are three position groups to watch after this draft, it\u2019s cornerback, defensive line and inside linebacker.<\/p>\n
After letting Kyzir White walk this free agency, the Cardinals tripled down on outside additions this offseason with veterans Akeem Davis-Gaither and Mykal Walker and rookie Cody Simon coming aboard.<\/p>\n
They join returners Mack Wilson Sr. and Owen Pappoe.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s a lot of bodies for a position that typically sees just three players on the 53-man roster.<\/p>\n
Wilson is safe and expected to resume his starting role. Beyond him, though, the depth chart is up in the air.<\/p>\n
Davis-Gaither and Walker will get their chances to start. And after taking Simon this draft, his spot on the roster appears safe for now.<\/p>\n
Pappoe, though, may need to turn heads this training camp to avoid being a cut casualty.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that\u2019s all got to sort out once we get to training camp and through the preseason,\u201d Ossenfort said. \u201cI think if you have a guy that wins the job then great, go with that. If you have to have guys in different roles, I think that all sorts itself out.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not married to one philosophy there. I think we\u2019re just going to try to put the team in the best position and however that looks, that\u2019s what we\u2019re going to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
The feeling is similar for a guy like Kei\u2019Trel Clark in the cornerbacks room.<\/p>\n
The Cardinals didn\u2019t add much talent to the cornerbacks room this free agency \u2014 Jaylon Jones was the biggest signing in the room \u2014 but they did go after a pair of cornerbacks in the draft.<\/p>\n
Arizona\u2019s 2025 second-round pick Will Johnson is expected to be a serious candidate to start along the outside. The big thing to watch with him is going to be his health.<\/p>\n
Fifth-rounder Denzel Burke will get his chances to carve out a role, too. Same with 2024 third-rounder Elijah Jones.<\/p>\n
But with Garrett Williams, Max Melton, Starling Thomas V and Sean Murphy-Bunting at the top of the depth chart, there aren\u2019t many roster spots up for grabs in the room, especially if the Cardinals stick with keeping six corners like they did for initial roster cuts.<\/p>\n
Then there\u2019s the revamped defensive line that consists of Dalvin Tomlinson, Calais Campbell, Darius Robinson, Walter Nolen III, Dante Stills, L.J. Collier, Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols. Most likely, though, only six will crack the initial 53-man roster.<\/p>\n
Whether it be at inside linebacker, defensive line or cornerback, some tough decisions are going to be made soon enough.<\/p>\n
Less means more<\/p>\n
The Cardinals have made it a point to build through the draft, with 21 players heading to Arizona across the past two NFL Drafts combined.<\/p>\n
All of them are currently on the roster as of Saturday.<\/p>\n
This year, however, that number took a dip with just seven selections made in 2025.<\/p>\n
One reasoning behind it?<\/p>\n
The added talent on the roster.<\/p>\n
After going hard this free agency and seeing a handful of NFL Draft picks carve out meaningful roles the past two seasons, the absolute need of building a lot of the roster through the draft isn\u2019t as prevalent as it has been.<\/p>\n
If that would have still been the case, we would have seen a more aggressive Ossenfort in the trade department like we did in 2023.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe like our picks and we were satisfied with sitting and picking and not just accumulating picks to accumulate,\u201d Ossenfort said. \u201cThere were guys that we liked and so that led to not as fast pace, but we like the seven guys that we added.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a small detail, but a sign the Cardinals are moving in the right direction when it comes to adding premium talent.<\/p>\n
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