Cardinals' Crowded, Well-Paid Linebacker Personnel
By Walter Mitchell
OLBs:
* Josh Sweat - 4 years, $76M, with $38M guaranteed --- 2025 PFF Grade: 74.2 in 17 games
* Zaven Collins - 2 years, $14M with $11.3M guaranteed --- 71.3 in 17 games
* Baron Browning - 2 years, $15M with $10M guaranteed --- 51.6 in 15 games
* B.J. Ojulari - year 4/4 of rookie contract --- $2.7M on 2026 cap --- 49.0 in 8 games
* Jordan Burch - year 2/4 rookie contract --- $1.5M on 2026 cap --- 49.0 in 17 games
ILBs:
* Mack Wilson Sr. - 3 years, $12.8M with $6.5M guaranteed --- 60.1 in 8 games
* Jack Gibbens - 2 years, $7.5M with $4.5M guaranteed --- 63.0 in 21 games with NE
* Cody Simon - year 2/4 of rookie contract --- $1.3M on 2026 cap --- 56.1 in 12 games
* Owen Pappoe --- year 4/4 of rookie contract --- $1.2M on 2026 cap --- 64.1 in 3 games
Players on starters' salaries?
* OLB Josh Sweat
* OLB Zaven Collins
* OLB Baron Browning
* ILB Mack Wilson Sr.
* ILB Jack Gibbbens
Questions:
1. If Monti Ossenfort, Dave Sears and the Cardinals' college scouting staff are so keenly high on drafting one of the top LBs (Arvell Reese, Rueben Bain Jr., David Bailey or Sonny Styles) why would they elect to pay Zaven Collin and Baron Browning a combined $15.5M on this year's salary cap?
Note: Calais Campbell said repeatedly last season that Zaven is a star in the making. Will 2026 be his breakout year?
2. Why are they electing to pay Mack Wilson Sr. and Jack Gibbens a combined $8.4M on this year's salary cap?
3. Are Zaven Collins and Mack Wilson Sr. playing out of position? Their tackling grades in 2025 were 38.4 for Collins and 41.9 for Wilson. Isn't Zaven better suited to play ILB and Mack Wilson Sr. better suited to play OLB?
4. Are the Cardinals coaches still committed to playing a 34 base defense given that key new coaches, SDA Teryl Austin (Steelers), DLC Pete Kwiatkowski (Texas), LBC Rod Wilson (Chiefs) and CBC Zac Etheridge (Miami FL) all come from primarily 4-man front systems?
5. If the Cardinals pick David Bailey, does he start opposite Josh Sweat? He'd be a significant upgrade at edge pass rusher. Would the coaches keep Zaven Collins in on rushing downs and substitute David Bailey in for Collins on passing downs? What happens with Baron Browning? Do they use him some at WILB? Rotate him in for Josh Sweat when needed?
6, Similar questions if the Cardinals pick Rueben Bain Jr. Yet, in his case he sets such a great edge, shouldn't he be the full-time starter on the edge opposite Josh Sweat?
7. If the Cardinals pick Arvell Reese (who they interviewed at the NFL Combine, plus had him come to Arizona for a 30 visit) would they play him at WILB or at SOLB? If at WILB, what would that mean for Jack Gibbens?
8. The Cardinals did not meet with Sonny Styles, either at the NFL Combine or on a 30-visit invitation (thus far). Did signing Jack Gibbens' to a $7.5M deal mean Monti is ruling out Styles? Or does Monti want to disguise their interest in the Buckeyes' 2025 1st-Team All-American, who, by the way, teamed with Cody Simon at ILB to lead the team to the 2024 Natty.
9. Do Monti, Dave and the FO believe they have done enough to foster and secure the team's depth at edge rusher, even though the defense was #30 in sacks with a mere 30?
10. With Mack Wilson Jr., Zaven Collins, Baron Browing, B.J. Ojulari and Owen Pappoe in the last year of their respective deals with the club, would Monti consider trading any of them? They recently picked up Baron Browning's $2M roster bonus, which would suggest (with a $9.5M cap figure this season) that they have big plans for Browning this year?
The player with the highest possible trade value is Zaven Collins who is now heading into his 6th NFL season at age 26. Other defensive coaches are apt to believe that the Cardinals have not been playing him at a position that would maximize his talents. Collins is major-league talent who is not having the kind of career one would expect given his superior physical talents.
Red Rain Podcast Prepper
What would you do?
Which of the top defenders makes the most sense?
Do you want to see the Cardinals' pivot and take RB Jerimiyah Love or T Francis Mauigoa instead?
Todd McShay is predicting that the Cardinals will trade the #3 to the Cowboys for picks #12 and #20. One pundit just mocked T Francis Mauigoa (Miami FL) at #12 and DE Keldric Faulk (Auburn) at #20 in this trade scenario. Would you make that trade, choosing the same or different players?
Sam, L'il Rock and I will address you answers and revel each of ours on Red Rain Podcast #210 tomorrow am.
Help us out here guys!
What are your thoughts and instincts?
I've always felt when (Gannon/Rallis) moved Zaven to edge we were making same mistakes -playing a player out of his natural (and collegiate) position. It would make more sense to move him back to ILB - but I doubt Rallis would admit to making mistake. The only excuse for keeping Collins on edge is to help set edge, if we draft Bain, there is no longer a reason to do this with Collins. Erase the mistake of three years. Collins may also be a trade candidate but I doubt we would get more than a 4th round pick for him. Conclusion, I fully expect Collins will retain his edge starting position - it is the Cardinal way!!!
ReplyDeleteOjulari having two knee injuries is pretty much lost on the roster; his best trait was a speed rush, is that lost with his injuries? at best, I see him at best a rotational piece. A far cry from his draft position. Would anyone trade anything of value, likely not. He may be a camp cut too.
Browning, was brought in to help pass rush - last year was disappointing season for him. Will he be traded? I believe we re-signed him in off-season so a trade is unlikely at this point. Might have been mistake to re-sign him. especially if we go Bain or Bailey.
J. Burch is developing, he has shown some good and bad tape. At worst he provides needed depth in his development and we wish for him to have breakout season in '26.
I'm not certain Mack Wilson would fare any better at OLB/Edge. In my mind he may be a trade candidate if Cardinals draft Bain and move Collins back to ILB.
Cardinals should stay @#3 and draft Bain, make him starter opposite Sweat. IF Jets should take Bain w/ #2 pick you can still take Styles. Sam, I'm a bit disappointed the FO hasn't brought in my two favored draft selections for top 30 visit. Walt, I fear Monti is just following and cow-towing to Bidwill demands in draft. Thus, keeping his job.
The Cowboys trade scenario is just ridiculous. NO way do I want us to trade back. The history of Monti's trade backs have not been good. In fact you're article yesterday illustrated how teams who traded with Cardinals got better players with greater impact than Cardinals selections. We don't need quantity - we need QUALITY. Bain & Styles are both top draft selections for a reason. Nobody else at the position close to those two. Reese is all about his physical profile (not enough experience to warrant top 5 pick IMO); Bailey is really a speedy pass rusher with some growth needed in run support. I don't believe we need a RB @#3 with how this roster performed. You need the the rest of roster to be corrected before. taking a luxury RB. So I'm a no on Love.
I am also of position that I do not wish Cardinals to trade into 1st round for Simpson. Just give Brisket a chance! You might like the aged meat over the newly cut piece which hasn't had chance to mature and tenderize. The ONLY QB I am really interested in at this stage is a lottery pick of D. Allar in round 4; he has upside can sit and learn from Brisket and Me-Shoes for a year and maybe be your future QB, if not you draft one in '27.
Lastly, OT is a need but ubles we are washing our hands of PJJ I don't believe we MUST draft a QB in Round 1 or Round 2.
For me how I look at draft boards here are my choices
R1 #3 (Bain or Styles)
R2 #34 (NT (MacDonald or Hunter)
R2 #48 (trade pick 65 and future pick for S-CB Ponds or Scott)
R3 pick 65 - trade
My Instinct tell me the Cardinals will do anything else than my plan. But I feel filling out Edge, NT and S-CB with Quality wins this draft.
We will feature this excellent post on the podcast!
DeleteShould be a very fun Podcast tomorrow morning!!!! I have a feeling Zaven Collins may be the odd man out for the Cardinals, and perhaps they have a trade already lined up for him
ReplyDeleteI think if we make the trade with Dallas for #12 and #20 there will probably be an additional 2027 pick as well. Mauigioa is probably gone by 12 so we would need to trade up for him. Messidor at #20 would be better than Faulk. Bailey being picked at #2 might have thrown our plan off. I still like Bain at #3 but maybe LaFleur wants a premium weapon in Love.
ReplyDeleteI always saw Zaven as a Brian Urachler type. For his career I hope he gets traded to a real franchise, say playing with Z Allen up in Denver
ReplyDelete