Mike LaFleur is preparing for his first free agency period as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, following a 2025 season that owner Michael Bidwill described as disappointing. General Manager Monti Ossenfort and LaFleur are working to reshape the roster with an emphasis on the secondary, which faced significant challenges last year due to injuries and player absences.
The team experienced several setbacks in its defensive backfield throughout the 2025 season. Sean Murphy-Bunting was placed on the non-football injury list before training camp, and Starling Thomas V suffered an ACL injury during camp. By opening day, two cornerbacks were already unavailable. Additional injuries followed: Max Melton, Will Johnson, Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Joey Blount, and Garrett Williams all missed time. Williams sustained a knee injury in Week 2 and later tore his Achilles tendon in Week 16 against Atlanta.
Looking ahead to free agency, safety Jalen Thompson is expected to test the market. Starling Thomas V will also be a free agent, and further changes could occur depending on decisions made by Ossenfort.
Budda Baker remains under contract and is regarded as one of the league’s top safeties. The organization must decide whether to retain Thompson, promote Taylor-Demerson into a starting role, or seek new talent for the secondary unit.
Other players currently under contract for 2026 include Sean Murphy-Bunting ($9.25 million cap hit), Garrett Williams ($3.95 million), Max Melton ($2.42 million), Will Johnson ($2.14 million), Joey Blount ($1.78 million), Elijah Jones ($1.55 million), Dadrion Taylor-Demerson ($1.29 million), Kei’Trel Clark ($1.20 million), Denzel Burke ($1.09 million), Kitan Crawford ($1.04 million), Jaden Davis ($1 million), and Kalen King ($1 million).
Historically, notable free agent signings for Arizona’s secondary have included Sean Murphy-Bunting (2024) as well as Robert Alford (2019) and Tre Boston (2018).
The Cardinals are based in Glendale, Arizona where they play their home games (official website). The franchise serves the greater Phoenix area (official website) and competes in the NFC West division (official website). The team is recognized as the oldest continuously operating professional football franchise in the United States (official website).