The Cardinals’ second-to-last roster tier is built around defense, leadership and players who shape what Arizona can do on that side of the ball. There are only three names here, and all three carry real weight: Budda Baker, Josh Sweat and Mack Wilson Sr.
Baker has been the constant in the middle of Arizona’s defense for years. He’s made the Pro Bowl in all but one of his nine NFL seasons, and while the interception totals may not jump off the page, his value shows up in the way he tackles and the freedom he has inside Nick Rallis’ defense to attack from different spots.
That kind of flexibility is rare, and it keeps opposing offensive coordinators on their toes. Just as important, Baker remains a steady leader through yet another coaching staff change.
He’s still regarded as one of the league’s best safeties, and he remains the Cardinals’ emotional center until he decides otherwise.
Sweat arrived in Arizona and immediately changed the shape of the pass rush. His 12.5 sacks in his first season with the Cardinals were second to none on the team and likely deserved Pro Bowl attention.
He’s clearly the top pass-rush threat in the outside linebacker room, and the Cardinals haven’t touched that room, which only raises his importance. With Jonathan Gannon no longer in the desert, there’s at least some curiosity about how Sweat follows up one of the best seasons of his career.
Still, the formula in the NFL hasn’t changed: if you can’t get after the quarterback, it’s hard to build a defense. Sweat is Arizona’s best answer to that problem.
Wilson may not have the same name recognition as Baker or Sweat, but his absence last season told the story. Once he went down with a season-ending rib injury, the Cardinals’ defense changed fast, and the front seven looked like a shell of itself.
Wilson brings versatility at inside linebacker, handles captain and green dot duties, and does a little bit of everything well. He can stop the run, rush the passer and drop into coverage.
He’s not a Pro Bowl player yet, but he plays like someone who belongs in that conversation. For Arizona, he’s a glue guy when healthy, and the defense clearly felt the difference when he wasn’t on the field.
In Other News...
Former Jaguars Defender Josh Mauro's Death Report Raises Disturbing Questions
Josh Mauros death has taken on a darker edge in the weeks since the former NFL defensive end was found unresponsive at his Arizona home. The Phoenix Police Department case report adds troubling context to a loss that already hit close to home for football fans in the state, where Mauro spent multiple seasons with the Cardinals and carved out a role as a rotational lineman and occasional starter.
The report describes a night that ended after Mauro was partying with several women at his home, and his father later publicly announced the death in a prayerful statement about the familys loss. For an organization that knew him across two stints, the news is a sobering reminder of how quickly a life can unravel once the headlines move from the field to something far more personal. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Secondary Has The Talent But Camp Will Decide Everything
The Cardinals cornerback room has the look of a group that could be a real strength if everything comes together. There is talent at the top, with Denzel Burke and Will Johnson giving Arizona a pair of young corners to build around, and the depth behind them gives the staff options as training camp opens. The bigger question is not whether the unit has enough ability on paper. It is whether the group can stay on the field long enough to show it.
Health has been the common thread hanging over this secondary, and camp figures to tell the story of who can actually hold up over time. Burke already flashed enough as a rookie to suggest he can be more than just a rotational piece, while the rest of the room will be trying to carve out roles and prove the Cardinals can count on them when the season starts. If that happens, this could be a secondary that grows quickly. If it does not, Arizona may be forced to keep searching for answers well beyond August. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Head Into Camp With A Quarterback Problem They Can't Ignore
With training camp set to open July 22 and the first practice coming a day later, the Cardinals are walking into one of the most delicate parts of the summer with their quarterback room still unsettled. Jacoby Brissett and Carson Beck remain in contract talks, leaving Arizona to sort through the last details while Gardner Minshew and Kedon Slovis are the only other quarterbacks currently on the roster.
Brissetts situation carries the most weight because he is already under contract through 2026, yet the sides are still working through a reworked deal that would give him more guaranteed money. Becks rookie contract is its own issue, with the third-round pick also pushing for guarantees, and the timing only adds to the pressure as the Cardinals try to get everyone on the field before camp gets rolling in earnest. [Read more 🡒]