PHX Reporter

The Arizona Cardinals have made significant strides in their performance, doubling their win total to eight victories in 2024 after two consecutive seasons with just four wins. General Manager Monti Ossenfort is now looking to enhance the team further as they approach the 2025 season. While praised for his strong draft selections, Ossenfort plans to prioritize free agency.

Current players under contract for 2025 include Justin Jones with a cap hit of $11,330,000, Bilal Nichols at $7,815,000, and Darius Robinson at $3,152,120. Additional contracts include Dante Stills at $1,063,333 and P.J. Mustipher at $960,000. Anthony Goodlow rounds out the list with a cap hit of $840,000.

Injuries have been an issue for the Cardinals' defensive line despite investments in players like Jones and Nichols. Head Coach Jonathan Gannon expressed confidence in these players and anticipates significant improvement from Robinson in his second season.

Several defensive linemen such as Roy Lopez and L.J. Collier are expected to enter free agency soon alongside Naquan Jones and Khyiris Tonga. The Cardinals may consider re-signing some of these players given the positive feedback from coaching staff. Gannon noted that if "you had 90 Roys you'd be good to go."

Defensive Coordinator Nick Rallis emphasizes rotating players to maintain freshness on the field. This strategy has allowed Dante Stills to secure a valuable position within the team despite being a sixth-round pick in 2023. With past injuries affecting depth in this area, adding more talent is crucial.

The upcoming draft class features many skilled defensive linemen and edge rushers; however, the Cardinals plan to focus on free agency initially.

Past notable signings by the team include Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols in 2024 along with several others over recent years such as J.J. Watt (2021) and Jordan Phillips (2020).

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