The Arizona Cardinals find themselves at a bit of a crossroads when it comes to their defensive tackle situation. Depending on how you look at it, they’re either building something solid-or staring down a depth chart that needs some serious attention.
Let’s start with the knowns. Calais Campbell, the ageless anchor of the defensive line, was one of the few bright spots last season.
He brought leadership, consistency, and still flashed that disruptive ability in the trenches. But here’s the catch-he’s a free agent, and as of now, there’s no word of any negotiations to bring him back.
The same goes for depth pieces like L.J. Collier and PJ Mustipher.
That’s a lot of experience and rotational value potentially walking out the door.
Then there’s Walter Nolen, last year’s first-round pick who showed real promise when healthy. The problem?
He wasn’t healthy for much of the year. A calf injury before training camp landed him on the reserve/PUP list to start the season, and a knee issue later sent him to injured reserve.
So while the flashes were there, the sample size was small. The potential is undeniable-but potential doesn’t stop the run or collapse the pocket.
Dalvin Tomlinson, the other starter, has been something of a mystery. He’s bounced around the league and, despite being a starter, his production consistently lags behind expectations.
This past season? Just 26 tackles and a single sack.
For a guy making $5 million in base salary, that’s a steep price tag-roughly $192,000 per tackle. And if the Cardinals keep him on the roster for the final year of his deal, that number jumps to $12.74 million.
That’s a tough pill to swallow for a player who hasn’t delivered consistent impact.
So where does that leave Arizona? In need of answers-and fast.
Enter John Franklin-Myers.
The veteran defensive tackle is set to hit free agency on March 9, and he checks a lot of boxes for what the Cardinals need. At 6’4” and 288 pounds, the 29-year-old has quietly become one of the most effective interior disruptors in the league.
Last season with the Denver Broncos, he started 15 games and racked up 7.5 sacks, 15 QB hits, and 23 pressures. That kind of production from the interior is rare-and valuable.
His Pro Football Focus grade of 80.6 puts him among the top defensive tackles available this offseason, and his pressure numbers over the past two seasons rank him 21st among all defenders in the NFL. That’s not just good-it’s elite company for a guy who doesn’t always get the national spotlight.
What makes Franklin-Myers particularly intriguing for Arizona is his versatility. He’s not just a one-gap guy.
He can line up inside or kick out to the edge when needed, giving defensive coordinator Nick Rallis more flexibility in his front four. He’s got a massive 82-inch wingspan, a quick first step, and a knack for slicing through gaps before offensive linemen can get set.
He’s also a strong run defender, which would help shore up one of the Cardinals’ biggest weaknesses from last season.
Of course, no player is perfect. Franklin-Myers still has room to grow technically.
He doesn’t always use his hands effectively to shed blocks, and at times, he lets offensive linemen get into his frame too easily. But those are coachable issues, especially for a player who already brings so much to the table.
The projected price tag? Three years, $34 million. That’s a significant investment, but for a team that needs both production and presence on the defensive line, it could be well worth the cost.
If the Cardinals can bring back Campbell and pair him with a healthy Nolen and a proven disruptor like Franklin-Myers, suddenly the defensive tackle room looks a lot more formidable. Add in the natural rotation that modern defenses rely on, and you’ve got a group that can stay fresh, stay aggressive, and finally start controlling the line of scrimmage.
There’s work to be done in Arizona. But with the right moves, this defensive front could go from question mark to cornerstone in a hurry.