The Arizona Cardinals are heading into 2026 looking for a jolt from the outside linebacker group, and BJ Ojulari may be the name that matters most.
Josh Sweat has already shown he can bring heat off the edge, piling up a team-high 12.5 sacks last season. But beyond him, the Cardinals need the rest of that room to level up, and Ojulari sits at the center of that conversation.
The former second-round pick showed real promise early, then a knee injury wiped out all of 2024 and half of 2025. Now fully past that setback, he’s entering the final year of his rookie deal with a chance to prove he can become the player Arizona has been waiting for.
Part of that push will come from an unusual offseason opportunity. Ojulari is set to attend the third annual “Sack Summit” in Las Vegas, where he’ll be around Maxx Crosby, Von Miller and Cameron Jordan. According to AZCardinals.com’s Zach Gershman, Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor will also be there working directly with players.
“Sack Summit is an annual event that brings together the NFL's top pass rushers in Las Vegas. Held over three days every summer, Sack Summit offers a unique chance for players from different teams to "link and learn" in a constructive environment while enjoying what the city has to offer. Participants exchange skills, knowledge, and techniques in addition to participating in on-field drills/workouts and film sessions with some of the best pass rushers in NFL history.”
Ojulari’s rookie year hinted at what Arizona thinks it has. He finished with four sacks and flashed the length and athleticism that made him such a high-end prospect out of LSU.
The key now is getting back to that version of himself after a major injury. As Ojulari put it earlier this offseason on Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta: “It feels amazing.
It’s very refreshing,” Ojulari told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta earlier in the offseason on his return from injury. “It just feels great to do everything when it’s supposed to be done.
I’m excited. I’m able to get more repetition to just fine-tune my game and be able to go into camp hitting the ground running.”
The Cardinals are hoping that extra work - and a little time around some of the league’s most accomplished pass rushers - helps turn Ojulari’s potential into production in 2026.
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The respect has come from more than just voters, too. Tristan Wirfs, Bryce Young and Derrick Brown all singled out Sweats motor, length and disruptive style, the kind of praise that tends to follow players who make life miserable for offenses. He was still left out of the Pro Bowl, and there was some offseason uncertainty around him, but Sweat remains in Arizona and is expected to anchor the pass rush again this season. [Read more 🡒]