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The Arizona Cardinals are in the final phase of their offseason program with two weeks remaining, one of OTAs and one of minicamp. They are hoping to bounce back from their 8-9 2024 when they lost five of their final seven games.
To do so, they will need some individual players to bounce back from 2024.
PFF named linebacker Baron Browning as the Cardinals' top bounce-back candidate for 2025. But there are a number of players who could use a bounce-back season, whether coming back from an injury, low production or simply not meeting expectations, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
Here are some defensive players to watch in 2025.
Ojulari was expected to be the Cardinals' top pass rusher in 2025 in his second NFL season. He didn't get to play a down, as he tore his ACL in training camp. Now he joins Browning, Josh Sweat, Zaven Collins and rookie Jordan Burch in a much-improved outside linebacker room.
Jones was the Cardinals' top free agent acquisition in 2024 but only logged three tackles in three games before tearing his triceps, ending his season. With the addition of free agents Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell and drafting Walter Nolen in the first round, Jones is not on anyone's radar. He now is part of a very talented rotation.
Thompson was basically invisible in 2024 despite 98 total tackles. He had no interceptions and only broke up three passes. In 2023, he picked off four passes, broke up nine, forced a fumble and had a sack. Entering the final year of his contract, having him be a playmaker is needed.
Robinson's rookie season was ruined by a calf injury before the season and then the death of his mother as he was coming back. That and some discomfort after he was brought back to practice led to only six games as a rookie and he had 10 tackles and one sack.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: 4 bounce-back candidates on defense for Arizona Cardinals in 2025
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To do so, they will need some individual players to bounce back from 2024.
PFF named linebacker Baron Browning as the Cardinals' top bounce-back candidate for 2025. But there are a number of players who could use a bounce-back season, whether coming back from an injury, low production or simply not meeting expectations, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
Here are some defensive players to watch in 2025.
Cardinals bounce-back defensive candidate 1: OLB BJ Ojulari
Ojulari was expected to be the Cardinals' top pass rusher in 2025 in his second NFL season. He didn't get to play a down, as he tore his ACL in training camp. Now he joins Browning, Josh Sweat, Zaven Collins and rookie Jordan Burch in a much-improved outside linebacker room.
Cardinals bounce-back defensive candidate 2: DL Justin Jones
Jones was the Cardinals' top free agent acquisition in 2024 but only logged three tackles in three games before tearing his triceps, ending his season. With the addition of free agents Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell and drafting Walter Nolen in the first round, Jones is not on anyone's radar. He now is part of a very talented rotation.
Cardinals bounce-back defensive candidate 3: S Jalen Thompson
Thompson was basically invisible in 2024 despite 98 total tackles. He had no interceptions and only broke up three passes. In 2023, he picked off four passes, broke up nine, forced a fumble and had a sack. Entering the final year of his contract, having him be a playmaker is needed.
Cardinals bounce-back defensive candidate 4: DL Darius Robinson
Robinson's rookie season was ruined by a calf injury before the season and then the death of his mother as he was coming back. That and some discomfort after he was brought back to practice led to only six games as a rookie and he had 10 tackles and one sack.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: 4 bounce-back candidates on defense for Arizona Cardinals in 2025
Continue reading...
