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The Arizona Cardinals hit a home run last year in free agency by signing DT Calais Campbell and EDGE rusher Josh Sweat. Both players had an exceptional season and were worth every dollar they were paid.
And now, here it is, about to begin this year’s version of free agency. Who will Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort sign to help this year’s roster?
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Hopefully, Ossenfort will continue to assist the defensive line. For starters, he can re-sign Campbell to another deal and keep him for at least another year. Next up, ink a really good EDGE rusher to bookend with Sweat and get some killer pass rush going.
Defensive ends under contract are Dante Stills, Darius Robinson, Zackary Carter, Bilal Nichols, and Sweat. The DTs are Dalvin Tomlinson and Walter Nolen.
Free agents from the position room include DT P.J. Mustipher and Campbell.
Nichols came to Arizona in 2024 on a three-year deal, but last season, he had a neck injury and was then placed on IR in mid-December with a knee injury. Robinson was drafted in the bottom of the first round to solve the pass-rushing issue. Stills was selected in Round 6 of the 2023 NFL draft and played in all 17 games last year with three starts, but had only 34 tackles and zero sacks. Carter was a last cut of the Cincinnati Bengals last year and ended up on the Cardinals’ practice squad.
This past year, Robinson had only 43 tackles and a single sack. Aren’t players taken in the first round supposed to be high-production players? Right quick?
Currently, none of these defensive ends is doing what they were hired to do. What the franchise wants is to have this dynamic duo rushing the passer on every passing down and wreaking havoc in the offensive backfield. Sweat and company.
But the only one doing that continually is Sweat.
The Cardinals need help on the defensive line. They own the third pick in this year’s first round of the NFL draft, and with that selection will either take an offensive tackle or an EDGE rusher. That’s a pretty safe bet.
Perhaps signing a productive pass rusher in free agency would solve the issue, and hopefully, the team can replicate getting in another player like Sweat.
In free agency, the best EDGE rusher available is Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals. He will command $21 million a year. If the Cardinals can afford that, then jump all over this freak of a pass rusher. If not, there are cheaper options that have proven their production.
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EDGE Odafe Oweh
Los Angeles Chargers
PFF ranking: 73.7
NFL draft: 2021 Round 1, pick #31 (Ravens)
Accolades: First Team All-Big 10 (2020), NFL All-Rookie Team (2021)
2025 season: 12 starts, 28 tackles, 13 QB hits, 7.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 batted passes, 19 pressures, 6 hurries, 5 knockdowns, 8 tackles for loss, 0 forced fumbles, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 touchdown, 2 batted passes, 0 missed tackles, 33 receptions allowed, 347 defensive snaps (50%), 21 special teams snaps (7%)
Oweh is one of the fastest players on every field. He blasts off the edge and has good quickness. His low tackle numbers represent his focus on rushing the passer. He had 7.5 sacks in 2025 and could have doubled that.
He has prototypical size for a speed rusher. Great burst with sheer athleticism. He possesses dynamite-infused quick -twitch explosiveness. Can handle larger offensive tackles with impressive leg drive.
Negatives include slow reaction time off the snap, and doesn’t always attack with consistent swipe power to batter the offensive tackles’ outside hand.
But one thing Oweh will provide is a quick pass rusher off the corner.
He was paid just $9.57 million after his Ravens rookie deal ran out and then inked a one-year deal with the Chargers.