Who is starting on the DLine?

[CardNots]

Oh, thank you for posting. However, since I wrote the idea, I looked a little into it. Watson injured his ACL late last season, so he might be out for much of this season. I haven’t really researched about other possibilities, but leading up to the draft I saw both Alec Pierce from the Colts and George Pickens from the Steelers being mentioned. Both fit exactly what I think the Cards need (a deep threat, big play-guy), but Pickens are allegedly a bit of a headcase. It’s just that I would like to see Ossenfort be aggressive going into the regular season. I think the team is ready to make a run, and a legit WR threat might be the missing ingredient.

I certainly wouldn’t give up a draft pick to acquire Watson especially given his injury. Why you say? Well it’s unlikely he would provide much value for this season likely starting the year on IR.

I keep focusing on those key words of “might be the missing ingredient”. I remember the same argument regarding the acquisition of Hollywood. We lost in that deal.

Not sure I’m willing to strike yet another especially for a currently injured player giving up draft capital with no chance to establish a rhythm with Kyler prior to the start of the season.

 

[Russ Smith]

Sure wish we had gone after Jeudy in trade last year like I mentioned at the time. He had a breakout year in Cleveland, not many TD's but their QB's sucked. He's the type of guy we need has the speed and is just coming into his prime now.

Need to find this years Jeudy and get him

 

[Gandhi]

I certainly wouldn’t give up a draft pick to acquire Watson especially given his injury. Why you say? Well it’s unlikely he would provide much value for this season likely starting the year on IR.

I keep focusing on those key words of “might be the missing ingredient”. I remember the same argument regarding the acquisition of Hollywood. We lost in that deal.

Not sure I’m willing strike yet another especially for a currently injured player giving up draft capital with no chance to establish a rhythm with Kyler prior to the start of the season.

You are very right, CN. “The missing piece” is often not the missing piece, for various reasons. I think my point is that I would like to see Ossenfort at least try to go for it. I think that he did a great job all the offseason in going after players that could become stars, so why not gamble all the way? I certainly understand the view that it is better to keep your resources, and specifically with Watson, I changed my mind when I found out that he was injured, but I would just personally like to be more aggressive for one offseason.

 

[oaken1]

You are very right, CN. “The missing piece” is often not the missing piece, for various reasons. I think my point is that I would like to see Ossenfort at least try to go for it. I think that he did a great job all the offseason in going after players that could become stars, so why not gamble all the way? I certainly understand the view that it is better to keep your resources, and specifically with Watson, I changed my mind when I found out that he was injured, but I would just personally like to be more aggressive for one offseason.

I dunno...Green Bay just draft another WR early to fill his role. since we are not likely to fill that position this season anyway I wouldnt mind having to wait to see him play. Worst case scenario is we have Zay Jones' replacement on the roster already... best case is he builds a rapport with Kyler when he comes back this season and we have a legit deep threat just in time for a playoff run.

 

[Gandhi]

I dunno...Green Bay just draft another WR early to fill his role. since we are not likely to fill that position this season anyway I wouldnt mind having to wait to see him play. Worst case scenario is we have Zay Jones' replacement on the roster already... best case is he builds a rapport with Kyler when he comes back this season and we have a legit deep threat just in time for a playoff run.

Depending on what it cost, I could be talked into it.

Green Bay drafted two in the first three rounds, by the way.

 

[BritCard]

Honestly can't say.

I don't think much of Robinson. Nolen may well outplay him in camp. Really going to come down to what happens there.

Only two I can be sure of on 1st down game one are Tomlinson and Sweat.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Someone else is mentioning Watson to the Cardinals now too.

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This trade could make the Arizona Cardinals a juggernaut after elite draft

It's hard to argue with the results of the Arizona Cardinals 2025 NFL Draft. Arizona repeatedly found massive value in potential star prospects. Players like Wa

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If the Cards could get GB to accept that deal, it should have happened yesterday. Murphy-Bunting has no trade value.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Robinson is going to be a starter this year, no doubt. I think CC will honorarily start too. Tomlinson is the other starter.
Very much doubt Nolan starts until late in year but will see the field a lot and be a main contributor.

 

[Gandhi]

I don't think much of Robinson. Nolen may well outplay him in camp. Really going to come down to what happens there.

I expect them to play different positions. I think they will move Robinson to more of an edge-role. The role that made him go from an expected midround pick as a junior to a first-round pick as a senior. I expect Robinson and Nolen on the field together quite often.

 

[BirdGangThing]

.

I expect them to play different positions. I think they will move Robinson to more of an edge-role. The role that made him go from an expected midround pick as a junior to a first-round pick as a senior. I expect Robinson and Nolen on the field together quite often.

i think d-rob's gonna do all his own stunts - where as cc/nolen/tomlinson will be more traditional

 

[kerouac9]

Robinson is going to be a starter this year, no doubt.

I expect him to be by mid year, but he didn’t get much experience or have much impact last season. Considering how little actual work is available in the preseason, I don’t know how you expect him to earn a starting job.

Much more likely it stays with Zaven, who I think people are vastly underrating.

 

[CardNots]

You are very right, CN. “The missing piece” is often not the missing piece, for various reasons. I think my point is that I would like to see Ossenfort at least try to go for it. I think that he did a great job all the offseason in going after players that could become stars, so why not gamble all the way? I certainly understand the view that it is better to keep your resources, and specifically with Watson, I changed my mind when I found out that he was injured, but I would just personally like to be more aggressive for one offseason.

After watching Monti celebrate wins last year, I’m convinced he is just as much a fan of this team as we are at least at this current point in time.

I would venture a guess Monti is doing what he can to steer this team to relevance.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Much more likely it stays with Zaven, who I think people are vastly underrating.

Yeah, if his role in this D is to be a great run stopper, he fills it. Not good in pass coverage or rushing the passer. Maybe he's just in on obvious run downs - having Browning to focus on getting to the QB should make for a decent rotation.

 

[GeorgiaCard88]

They are very different players, GC, and fit different roles on the defensive line. If they do let Nichols go, it would likely be for a guy like the undrafted Elijah Simmons who fits that role much better, but even though I like Simmons, that is probably unlikely to happen.

Gandhi with all due respect- I think we sometimes over micro compartmentalize the D-line position based on "technique".

At the end of the day- in my humble opinion- this defense is no worse off by letting a player like Nichols float away, even without a pound for pound equivalent to replace him. If rallis is the coordinator we believe him to be- he will infuse a much higher talent level/potential effectively than keeping a sub-par player because that player fits a certain phenotype.

 

[kerouac9]

Yeah, if his role in this D is to be a great run stopper, he fills it. Not good in pass coverage or rushing the passer. Maybe he's just in on obvious run downs - having Browning to focus on getting to the QB should make for a decent rotation.

The average NFL team had 62 offensive plays per game. Across two edge positions that’s 124 snaps per game. Plenty to go around and put each player in a position to excel.

 

[HairZach]

Sure wish we had gone after Jeudy in trade last year like I mentioned at the time. He had a breakout year in Cleveland, not many TD's but their QB's sucked. He's the type of guy we need has the speed and is just coming into his prime now.

Need to find this years Jeudy and get him

Disappointing former 1st round WR from 2019-2022 who are hitting their prime age? Guys that fit the description who would be possible to get are Kadarius Toney, N'Keal Harry, and maybe Hollywood Brown/Jahan Dotson.

 

[Russ Smith]

Disappointing former 1st round WR from 2019-2022 who are hitting their prime age? Guys that fit the description who would be possible to get are Kadarius Toney, N'Keal Harry, and maybe Hollywood Brown/Jahan Dotson.

I mean guy in his mid 20's who's just hitting his stride as a player. Not that there's a guy like Jeudy every year but the Browns traded a 5th and 6th round pick and got a guy who put up 90 catches for them at 25 years old(now 26). That's the pipe dream, every year there's a guy like that at some position, seems less common at Wr but it happens every year with OL's and DT's etc

 

[BritCard]

I expect him to be by mid year, but he didn’t get much experience or have much impact last season. Considering how little actual work is available in the preseason, I don’t know how you expect him to earn a starting job.

Much more likely it stays with Zaven, who I think people are vastly underrating.

Yeah Zaven more likely to be the 1st down edge, which will get him the starter asterix. But might only play 1st downs TBH.

 

[Gandhi]

After watching Monti celebrate wins last year, I’m convinced he is just as much a fan of this team as we are at least at this current point in time.

I would venture a guess Monti is doing what he can to steer this team to relevance.

Oh, I am not questioning that at all. If I gave that impression, that is on me. It's just that there is obviously different ways to do it, and I think that the one I wish is different from what Ossenfort think.

 

[Gandhi]

Gandhi with all due respect- I think we sometimes over micro compartmentalize the D-line position based on "technique".

At the end of the day- in my humble opinion- this defense is no worse off by letting a player like Nichols float away, even without a pound for pound equivalent to replace him. If rallis is the coordinator we believe him to be- he will infuse a much higher talent level/potential effectively than keeping a sub-par player because that player fits a certain phenotype.

To me it is about playing style, and Nichols’ playing style is just significantly different than Stills’, partly because he is simply bigger. Size is not necessarily a requirement to play that role, but the two aspects just usually follow, so it is not that Rallis would keep the lesser talent, but simply that he needs Nichols to make his scheme work. So while you are certainly right that if the Cards had a pound-for-pound alternative to him, then the team might not be worse in letting go of Nichols, but the problem is that they don’t. That is also why I mentioned that Simmons could potentially be an alternative to Nichols. It’s about filling a role and not about general talent.

I will also note that Nichols played in six games. The sample size to write him off is very small.

I appreciate a lot that Ossenfort acquires players that fits the schemes, while Keim mostly acquired the best players he could get and then left it to the coaches to make it work.

 

[Harry]

I think Campbell starts initially, gradually being replaced by Nolen especially on passing downs.

 

[Harry]

I could see the Cards putting together an all out pass rush where they get 7 rushers on the field at the same time and just charge.

 

[BirdGangThing]

I could see the Cards putting together an all out pass rush where they get 7 rushers on the field at the same time and just charge.

don't stop - i didn't finish

 

[Goldfield]

Yeah Zaven more likely to be the 1st down edge, which will get him the starter asterix. But might only play 1st downs TBH.

This is good news

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Ourlads is a little more well-regarded:

2025 Arizona Cardinals Depth Chart | Ourlads.com

The most respected source for NFL Draft info among NFL Fans, Media, and Scouts, plus accurate, up to date NFL Depth Charts, Practice Squads and Rosters.

www.ourlads.com

This would have been my assumption. Zay is the one if these things that’s not like the other. Really stands out as the wtf.