Revenge of the Birds
Tell us what you love about this class and what you don’t love about it
Here is Ben Solak’s assessment:
Key acquisitions and returning players: Edge Josh Sweat, C Evan Brown, DT Dalvin Tomlinson, LB Baron Browning
I loved: The Sweat signing. He is just a winning player through and through. Sweat is a high-effort run defender with impactful play at the point of attack — a rarer and rarer trait as edge rushers have become increasingly lighter and smaller over the years. He’s a high-ceiling pass rusher who can win as the primary sack artist or as the pocket-pushing complement on the opposite side of a blitz or stunt.
Sweat’s familiarity with coach (and former Eagles DC) Jonathon Gannon, for whom he had his career-best 11 sacks in 2022, should help smooth the on-boarding process. He might not be a yearly 12-plus-sack player, but it’s hard to imagine this contract utterly failing given his fit and familiarity.
I didn’t love: The exodus at defensive tackle. As Roy Lopez, Khyiris Tonga and Naquan Jones all signed elsewhere, the Cardinals lost 467, 261 and 229 snaps from last season, respectively. Dante Stills and Darius Robinson are the remaining incumbent tackles, and the signing of Tomlinson was smart. But their depth along the defensive line will now be tested, as both Bilal Nichols and Justin Jones are returning from injury. There’s a lot of newness at that position, which isn’t bad news — the group might improve as a whole! — but it will be a big question mark to track entering the 2025 season.
Josh Weinfuss of ESPN offered these assessments of the Cardinals’ free agents (with my reactions in italics):
Arizona and Fehoko agreed to a one-year deal.
What it means: Whether Fehoko can crack the receiving rotation will be determined throughout the offseason, but he could end up being a key addition should injuries hit. Fehoko has 10 catches for 139 yards and a touchdown in 24 career games, of which he started two. His best season came last year, when he played in eight games for the Los Angeles Chargers and had six catches for 106 yards.
What’s the risk: Another signing with little risk despite injuries. He’s learned how to be a role player when called upon, and that will continue in Arizona.
Mitch: there’s a chance that Simi Fehoko will make the 53 as a tall, speedy option at slot WR.
Arizona and Tomlinson agreed to a two-year deal.
What it means: Tomlinson is a force in the run game. Two years ago, he had the second-best run stop run win rate and last year, he helped the Cleveland Browns to the best run stop win rate in the NFL. He’ll...
