{"id":36510,"date":"2025-05-09T13:45:10","date_gmt":"2025-05-09T13:45:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/36510\/"},"modified":"2025-05-09T13:45:10","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T13:45:10","slug":"cardinals-cody-simon-has-1-big-goal-for-his-rookie-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/36510\/","title":{"rendered":"Cardinals’ Cody Simon has 1 big goal for his rookie season"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

TEMPE \u2014 The Arizona Cardinals have a big question mark in the middle of the defense heading into 2025.<\/p>\n

With former team captain Kyzir White unsigned and multiple additions to the LBs room, who is going to take the reins of the defense at MIKE backer?<\/p>\n

And despite the learning curve and veteran competition in front of him, Cardinals fourth-rounder Cody Simon is hoping to be the solution sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n

“My job is to contribute as early as possible. I’m ready to go. \u2026 They drafted me here to be able to contribute early.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cardinals rookie LB Cody Simon is already locked in. pic.twitter.com\/9vPQWH0RlJ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) May 8, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThey don\u2019t take you if they don\u2019t think you can contribute now. My biggest goal is to contribute as early as possible and help the team the best that can,\u201d Simon told Arizona Sports\u2019 Burns & Gambo on Thursday.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m ready to go and I\u2019ve been talking to (inside linebackers coach Cristian Garcia) already and we\u2019re just ready to go,\u201d the linebacker added during his introductory press conference. \u201cI need to be as prepared as possible. I know that the game is mental. It\u2019s as much mental as it is physical now and so I need to be ready at all points.\u201d<\/p>\n

Simon, who gave off Jordan Hicks vibes at times during his press conference, heads to the Cardinals after five years and 57 games played at Ohio State. His time as a Buckeye was culminated with a National Championship run that saw Simon set career highs in tackles (112), sacks (seven) and passes defensed (seven) in 15 games played.<\/p>\n

During his entire stretch in Columbus, Simon not only took strides as a player but also a leader, earning the prestigious Block O Award<\/a> given out to the program\u2019s best. Only five players have earned the right in program history.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d put leadership in three different things. It\u2019s being seen, heard and felt,\u201d Simon said.<\/a> \u201cSeeing you do the right thing all the time. You\u2019re the person that they can look to do the right thing. You\u2019re heard, you\u2019re the vocal leader. You can motivate, inspire. Then felt is the emotion, the passion that you can play with that others can look to and they can feel it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Can Cody Simon make an immediate impact for Cardinals?<\/p>\n

Defensively, Simon has a realistic path at achieving his goal as a rookie.<\/p>\n

Which Cardinals later-round draft pick has the best chance at starting in 2025?@koval_lauren<\/a> and I make our pick!<\/p>\n

Full episode: https:\/\/t.co\/JLNcqun0UR<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/hE9BS761R9<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) May 3, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Akeem Davis-Gaither figures to be his toughest competition for the starting role opposite Mack Wilson Sr. Mykal Walker could also be in the mix after both he and Davis-Gaither inked deals with the franchise in free agency.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also a world where Wilson takes over the green dot and quarterbacks the defense, with Simon or whomever else filling in as the hybrid option the veteran was for the Cardinals last year.<\/p>\n

And if Simon can\u2019t find his way into the middle of the defense, special teams is another viable route for the rookie.<\/p>\n

However it shakes out, Simon is ready to get after it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just ready to be a sponge, ready to learn as much as possible right now. My job is to push everyone else in the room and to be the best player possible,\u201d he told Burns & Gambo.<\/p>\n

Follow @Tdrake4sports<\/a><\/p>\n

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