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From signing Josh Sweat to drafting Walter Nolen, the Arizona Cardinals made several key changes in the 2025 NFL offseason. With several new additions making a smooth transition in minicamp, the Cardinals face an interesting roster situation entering training camp.
Final cuts are not due until August, but many internal discussions occur after minicamp. The Cardinals entered the offseason with a handful of internal positional battles, putting a lot of weight on the early offseason.
After investing heavily in their offense in 2024, the Cardinals focused most of their energy on defense in the 2025 offseason. Led by Nolen and Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, Arizona spent seven of its eight draft picks on defenders. They did not have a lot of room to work with in free agency, making veteran pass-rushers Sweat and Calais Campbell their only notable free agent signings.
Without making many roster changes, the Cardinals are banking on internal development pushing them forward in 2025. Arizona expects big second-year leaps from Marvin Harrison Jr., Trey Benson and Isaiah Adams. The team also looks for continuous progression from Trey McBride after giving the tight end a lucrative four-year extension.
Ahead of his pivotal third season, the pieces appear to be in order for Jonathan Gannon to succeed. However, as the Cardinals continue to progress, not everyone will continue growing along with the team.
Despite entering the league as a second-round pick, Zay Jones’ expectations have not been high for years. Regardless, he still disappointed in 2024, mustering a career-low 84 receiving yards. Jones battled an early-season suspension and nagging injuries, resulting in his shockingly minute 23.5 percent offensive snap share.
Jones enters the 2025 offseason as the team’s most experienced wideout, but is arguably the biggest liability. After the Cardinals expected Jones to be a veteran leader of the group in 2024, his letdown season could only have plummeted their updated calculations. Arizona re-signed Jones on a one-year deal in March, but his competition increased tenfold in minicamp.
Jones was already expected to begin the year as a backup behind Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch and Harrison. He joined Quez Watkins, Xavier Weaver, Simi Fehoko and Andre Baccellia as the reserves of an updated receiving room. The Cardinals were reportedly pleased with the group in minicamp, with nearly every backup other than Jones generating buzz. Weaver, in particular, caught Gannon’s eye in minicamp.
“He put on some weight,” Gannon said, via AZSports’ Tyler Drake. “He’s a little more physical running routes. He’s not getting knocked around at the line of scrimmage. Just the physical thing jumps out to me. He’s done a good job and playing three different spots.”
Weaver making noise early on impacts Jones more than any other player on the Cardinals’ 2025 offseason roster. The former undrafted free agent played just 57 snaps in 2024 and failed to haul in either of his two targets. His current momentum gives him a great chance to make the final cut, which typically comes at...
