Arizona Cardinals' MODS Squad: A Treasure Trove of Defensive Line Talent

by Walter Mitchell


                                                     photo: @ IMAGO Mark J. Rebilas

In terms of addressing what has been one of the Cardinals' weakest units, what an epic off-season it was for Monti Ossenfort and Dave Sears --- aka The MODS Squad!

I mean we are talking from top to bottom --- the Cardinals' defensive line this season is absolutely stocked with a cache of incandescent gems.

Major Acquisitions/Re-Signings:

1. DE/DT Calais Campbell --- quite possibly the most dynamic and productive 34 DE of two generations, who turned down other handsome offers to return home to the Cardinals.

2. DT Dalvin Tomlinson --- big-time interior space eater who is coming off a season with the Browns where he took his interior pass rushing skills to another level.

3. DE/OLB Josh Sweat --- coming to Arizona hotter than a firecracker following his 2 1/2 sacks of Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl.

4. ED Baron Browning --- a bend-it-like-Beckham edge rusher whose speed jumps off the screen.

5. ED Zaven Collins --- a classic edge setter and run stopper whom the coaches believe is going to take his pass rush in 2025 to the next level.

6. DT L.J. Collier --- a former 1st round pick who is starting to find his niche as an inside pass rusher.

2025 NFL Draft Selections:

R1 --- DT Walter Nolen III, Mississippi

2025 Live Draft Tracker (pff.com)

Pick #16 Arizona Cardinals

Pick Grade:Elite

The Cardinals add another extremely talented player to amplify their defensive front. As a plus run defender, Nolen earned the second-highest PFF run-defense grade in the FBS this past season (91.6). The seventh-ranked prospect on the PFF Big Board will instantly upgrade an Arizona defense that ranked 27th in EPA allowed per rush in 2024.

https://x.com/RGIII/status/1915602780263158117 

R3 --- ED Jordan Burch, Oregon

Pick #78 Arizona Cardinals

Pick Grade:Very Good

Burch played the fewest pass-rushing snaps of his career in 2024 but logged a career-high 10 sacks. His 81.3 PFF pass-rushing grade and 15.7% pass-rush win rate are good numbers, and he brings scheme versatility with great size and length to play multiple positions on the defensive line.

https://x.com/AzCardinals1988/status/1954358797516108118

Returnees:

1. DE Darius Robinson --- 2024 1st round pick who has come back chiseled and hungry from an injury and tragedy riddles rookie season.

2. DT Dante Stills --- 2023 6th round steal who brings quickness and tenacity to the interior pass rush.

3. ED B.J. Ojulari --- 2023 2nd round pick --- an uber talented edge rusher looking to bounce back big-time from an ACL tear.

4. ED Xavier Thomas --- 2024 6th round pick --- a dynamic, speedy young edge rusher who flashed moments of brilliance particularly as a chase down sack artist as a rookie. 

5. DT Justin Jones --- 2024 UFA signee coming off an injury marred season.

6. DT Bilal Nichols --- 2024 UFA signee coming off and injury-marred season.


Under the Radar Signings/Claims: (click on links for highlight plays or info)

1. DT PJ Mustipher --- Michigan St.

https://x.com/DLoya_NFL/status/1958424599018033529

2. DT Elijah Simmons --- Tennessee

https://x.com/DLoya_NFL/status/1953228083026378882

3. DT Kyon Barrs --- USC

https://x.com/DLoya_NFL/status/1957898085977460876

4. DT/DE Patrick Jenkins --- Tulane

https://x.com/SethLewisInc/status/1919769126437847182

5. ED Elliott Brown

https://x.com/DLoya_NFL/status/1957903737680458090

6. ED Benton Whitley

https://x.com/dlinevids1/status/1821739937320071405

7. DT Anthony Goodlow

https://x.com/Koll_0ne/status/1784781388128084064

PFF Grades through two games:

ARZ Defense Grades | Pro Football Focus (pff.com)

1. Kyon Barrs --- 83.2

2. Patrick Jenkins --- 70.2

3. Benton Whitley --- 68.9

4. Elijah Simmons --- 60.2

5. PJ Mustipher --- 55.4

6. Elliott Brown --- 53.8

7. Anthony Goodlow --- 43.7

Versus the Broncos, these young bucks collected 14 QB pressures (Whitley and Jenkins with 4 each, Barrs with 3), 1 sack (Jenkins), 17 tackles (Mustipher with 6) and 9 stops (Mustipher. with 3, Jenkins, Simmon and Goodlow with 2 each. 

Red Rain Challenge Questions:

1. Who are your top 12 players (of all the players listed above)) for the 53-man roster?

2. Who are your top 5 players for the practice squad?

3. Which young, under-the-radar player do you think might most likely be claimed off waivers?

4. Which veteran player do you think most likely could be claimed off waivers (remember to consider salary)?



Comments

  1. RedrunAugust 21, 2025 at 8:11 AM

    (1)
    DT: Campbell, Tomlinson, Nolen, Robinson, Stills, Collier
    ED: Sweat, Browning, Collins, Burch, Thomas, Ojulari
    (2)
    DT PS: Mustipher, Simmons, Nichols (IR), Barrs
    ED PS: --NONE--
    (3)
    Mustipher
    (4)
    Ojulari, Collier

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Walter MitchellAugust 21, 2025 at 10:22 AM

      Good work, RR! Here are mine as of right now:
      DI: Campbell, Tomlinson, Robinson, Nolen III, Stills, Barrs, Mustipher
      ED: Sweat, Collins, Browning, Burch, Thomas

      PS: Collier, J. Jones, Jenkins, Simmons, Whitley

      Waiver risks: Barrs, Mustipher and Jenkins

      Veteran waiver risks: none (no team will take on the salaries)

      Delete
    2. Since 61August 21, 2025 at 11:50 AM

      IDK who will hit waivers: Whitley Mustipher Barrs. I think Mustipher has a shot at the 53. Collier will also make the 53 cause who knows when Nolen getting on the field. Not impressed with how he showed up to camp

      Delete
  2. Since 61August 21, 2025 at 11:51 AM

    Who knows who we might bring in after camp cuts this week

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Since 61August 21, 2025 at 11:57 AM

      Looking closer-I got doubts about the following DL and non DL making the 53 and maybe PS/Waivers-K Clark, Mykal Walker, Elliot Brown, Elijah Jones. Walker and Jones have stood out recently.

      Delete

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