Arizona Cardinals offseason: Interesting strategy for defensive EDGE
· Yahoo Sports
The Arizona Cardinals spent big money on their edge defenders last offseason. This offseason, they are going with a very different approach.
They have done nothing at all.
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Last offseason, they signed Josh Sweat to a four-year, $76.4 million contract and they re-signed Baron Browning, whom they acquired via trade during the 2024 season, to a two-year, $14.9 million deal.
The Sweat deal paid off in Year 1, as he had a team-leading and career-high 12 sacks.
Browning had a disappointing two sacks.
In fact, while Sweat had 12, the rest of the outside linebackers who played last season — Browning, Zaven Collins, Jordan Burch and BJ Ojulari — combined for only 5.5 sacks.
It was a problem, as Sweat's play wore down in games. He produced nothing in the fourth quarter of games.
And yet, this offseason, the Cardinals have made no changes. Nobody left in free agency, they didn't cut anyone and have added nobody new to the position.
What are the Cardinals doing at OLB in 2026?
It would seem foolish to go into this coming season having done nothing. They can't viably expect Sweat to do more than he did. The only player between Browning, Collins, Ojulari and Burch who could be expected to do more is Burch, who was a rookie last season. The rest are who they are. Expecting more would be a bad plan. If they do more, that's a bonus.
So are the Cardinals done at position?
One would hope not.
There is one clear answer to this — they must be planning on drafting someone early.
While many mock drafts have been matching the Cardinals with a tackle with the third overall pick, the Cardinals have actually done work in free agency there, signing Elijah Wilkinson, Oli Udah and Matt Pryor, and they have Demontrey Jacobs, Christian Jones and Josh Fryar all returning.
If the Cardinals draft a pass rusher third overall, then the lack of moves in fre agency would make sense.
If they don't, then you have to wonder about their expectations.
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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals offseason: Interesting strategy for defensive EDGE