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The Arizona Cardinals could be on the brink of something very interesting. They are coming off a rollercoaster 2024 campaign that saw their offense emerge as one of the league’s most dynamic units while the defense struggled mightily. Now, the front office made significant investments this offseason aimed at restoring balance. However, for every big swing that connects, there’s often one that doesn’t. In Arizona’s case, their riskiest move in the 2025 NFL offseason was not landing a star defensive lineman. That one misfire could end up making all the difference in whether this team contends or continues to tread water in a brutal NFC West.
The 2024 season was a tale of two sides of the ball for the Cardinals. On one hand, they fielded an elite offensive unit. It ranked near the top in many offensive metrics thanks to the continued growth of Kyler Murray. We also saw the explosive emergence of wideout Marvin Harrison Jr and a cohesive ground game. On the other hand, the Cardinals’ defense finished near the bottom in many other defensive metrics. That’s a jarring mismatch for a team led by Jonathan Gannon, who is known for his defensive acumen.
This offseason, Arizona’s front office made it a clear priority to address the defensive deficiencies. The splashiest move came with the signing of edge rusher Josh Sweat. Sweat logged 8.0 sacks and a 14.1 percent pressure rate with the Philadelphia Eagles last season. He will be tasked with revitalizing a Cardinals pass rush that has been bottom-tier of late.
The defensive line was further bolstered by two key additions. We saw the return of franchise favorite Calais Campbell and the signing of interior stalwart Dalvin Tomlinson. The Cardinals weren’t done. In the 2025 NFL Draft, they took a calculated risk on Michigan cornerback Will Johnson. He was arguably the top player at his position before injuries impacted his stock. They also landed promising defensive tackle Walter Nolen III in the first round. Nolen gets the benefit of mentorship from Campbell and Tomlinson as he develops.
Sure, most of the focus was on defense. However, one lingering concern on offense is the interior offensive line. The Cardinals made minimal moves there, potentially gambling on internal development or looking ahead to next offseason. That said, the real risk came elsewhere.
Here we’ll try to look at the riskiest move that the the Arizona Cardinals executed in the 2025 NFL offseason.
The Cardinals checked many boxes defensively—but they missed the biggest one. Arizona was firmly in the mix for versatile defensive lineman Milton Williams. Unfortunately, he signed with the New England Patriots on a contract worth over $26 million per year. Losing out on Williams wasn’t just a blow to Arizona’s defensive upgrade strategy. It was a missed chance to construct a fearsome, game-altering defensive front.
Williams was no stranger to Gannon, of course. Williams played under him when Gannon served as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator...
