5 Most Undervalued Cardinals on Defense
By Walter Mitchell
To reiterate:
One of the mistakes that a number of Cardinals' fans have been tending to make is assuming that if the coaches don't seem to believe in a player or favor him, then it's strictly the player's fault.
Too many Cardinals' fans, in my opinion, are quick to pigeonhole a player to the point of dismissing any possibility that the player can prove otherwise.
Lastly, if a player isn't a high draft pick or, a household name --- to a significant number of misinformed fans, he will always be considered a JAG, as in "just a guy."
Here are 5 of the most undervalued players on the Cardinals' defense:
1. DT PJ Mustipher
PJ Mustipher, the 6-4, 320-pound undrafted defensive lineman (2023) from Penn St. where he was 2nd Team All Big-Ten in 2021 and 2022, is on a mission to make a big splash in the NFL. Over the past couple of years, he's become a workout warrior. And this past season, his inspired work ethic is starting to pay dividends.
2025 Stats:
* 300 snaps
* 3 QB hurries
* 20 tackles, 12 assists (only 2 missed tackles)
* 7 stops
* 70.9 tackling grade, 2nd best on the d-line behind Walter Nolen's 73.8.
Strong presser during last year's pre-season:
Best position: NT
Primary Role: Run stuffer
Top assets: brute strength, vision, shedding and finishing
Penn St. Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wglIBVGtOZA
Trivia: his older brother C Sam Mustipher plays for the Broncos.
2. LB Cody Simon
If you watched Cody Simon, 6-2, 230 ILB at Ohio St., you were likely very impressed with his attacking style of play and charismatic leadership.
Last season, after Mack Wilson Sr. was injured, it took Cody Simon a few games to get accustomed to leading the defense at MIKE and once he settled in, he was the team's most productive tackler down the stretch.
2025 Stas:
* 564 snaps
* 76 tackles
* 20 stops
* 1/2 sack
* 2 TFLs
* 2 PBUs
* 1 FF
Best Game: at CIN Week 17: 15 tackles, 1/2 sack
Top Assets: sold size, 4.5 speed, attack style of play both in storming the run and in playing tight, man-to-man pass coverage. Outstanding blitzer.
Accolades at Ohio St.:
- CFP national champion (2024)
- CFP National Championship Game Defensive MVP (2025)
- Rose Bowl Game Defensive MVP (2025)
- First-team All-Big Ten (2024)
Ohio St. highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttXaz0fCYlI
Best position: MIKE LB
Primary Role: Green Dot
Trivia: his brother Shayne is a LB for the DC Defenders of the UFL.
3. LB Owen Pappoe
Owen Pappoe is the epitome of the overlooked, under-utilized 5th round draft pick. As a 6-0, 235-pound rookie from Auburn with blazing 4.39 speed, Jonathan Gannon and Nick Rallis had veteran Josh Woods, who had never been a starter in the NFL, starting for 11 games at WILB. Woods' PFF grades and numbers were 31.8 OVERALL, 29.0 RDEF, 29.0 TACK, 46.0 COV, 21% missed tackle percentage and a QB RTG of 134.7 in pass coverage.
At the very least, in light of Owen Pappoe's superior speed and athleticism, he should have been used at WILB on passing downs. By the end of the season, Pappoe had been given a mere 118 snaps in which he proved to be a significant upgrade to Woods: 65.3 OVERALL, 49.1 RDEF, 77.7 TACK, 69.9 COV.
Those encouraging numbers could have given the coaches a reason to start him at WILB in 2024, except that they turned the job over to UFA Mac Wilson Sr., whose grades in 3 of the 4 categories were worse than Pappoe's, the most alarming of which was Wilson's and Kyzir White's becoming worst pass coverage ILB tandem in the NFL, giving up 85 catches on 98 targets (87.0%) for 897 yards. Once again Owen Pappoe was limited to 131 snaps and again earned the team's best pass coverage game at ILB at 76.9, which for ILBs with over 125 snaps was 6th best in the NFL.
Yet in year three, Owen Pappoe got shortchanged again when the coaches moved Mack Wilson to MILB and signed UFA Akeem Davis-Gaither to start at WILB.
2025 ILB grades:
* Wilson Sr.: 60.1 OVERALL, 52.4 RDEF, 41.9 TACK, 59.8 COV
* Davis-Gather: 49.9 OVERALL, 66.9 RDEF, 55.9 TACK, 36.5 COV
Again, finishing the season as one of the worst ILB tandems in pass coverage in the NFL, giving up 80 receptions (78.0%) for 812 yards and 6 TDs.
This time, Owen Pappoe was relegated to his least number of snaps at 93 (did not get one snap until Week 14), yet graded as follows:
Owen Pappoe: 64.1 OVERALL, 54.6 RDEF, 82.8 TACK, 70.3 COV
BOLD: Highest ILB grades on the team, by a wide margin.
In his one start at home versus the Rams:
71.6 OVERALL, 61.6 RDEF, 80.5 TACK, 72.1 COV
* 10 tackles
* 1 PBU
* 3/5 for 25 yards, 72.9 RTG
In my opinion, the most talented, nifty and athletic ILB tandem for the Cardinals this season would be Cody Simon at MILB and Owen Pappoe at WILB.
Yet, with Rallis as DC, the starters are more likely to be Mack Wilson Sr. once again at MILB and Jack Gibbens at WILB.
* Wilson Sr.: 60.1 OVERALL, 52.4 RDEF, 41.9 TACK, 59.8 COV
* Gibbens: 65.3 OVERALL, 62.5 RDEF, 71.5 TACK, 63.8 COV
Speed:
40 Yard Dash
* Pappoe --- 4.39
* Simon --- 4.59
* Fred Warner --- 4.64
* Wilson Sr. --- 4.71
* Gibbens --- 4.82
10-Yard Split:
* Pappoe --- 1.52
* Fred Warner --- 1.53
* Simon --- 1.54
* Gibbens --- 1.61
* Wilson Sr. --- 1.63
20-Yard Split
* Pappoe --- 2.52
* Simon --- 2.59
* Fred Warner --- 2.65
* Gibbens --- 2.76
* Wilson Sr. --- 2.78
Yet, to so many Cardinals' fans who believe in the coaches' decisions, Owen Pappoe is "just a guy." Last week, after my updated 53-man roster projection, here's a sampling of Pappoe as JAG comments:
Top Assets: Elite speed, outstanding range and ability to play man to man pass coverage, much improved tackler and OP's as quick a blitzer as there is.
Auburn Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51HerqWAUGE
Trivia: In 2020 ay Auburn, as a sophomore, Owen Pappoe had 94 tackles and 4 sacks.
4. CB Elijah Jones
What is it ever going to take for Elijah Jones, one of the Cardinals 3rd round picks in 2024 to even get a proper chance to start at CB?
Jones has the complete package as an NFL CB:
Size: 6'2" 185-pounds
Speed: 4.44
Vertical: 42.5"
College Success: 1st Team All-ACC 2023
Ballhawk: 7 interceptions and 36 pass breakups at BC
Versatility: Strong in both man and zone coverages
Tackler: 158 career tackles at BC
2023 PFF grades at Boston College:
OVERALL: 90.6
RDEF: 71.7
TACK: 69.6
COVV: 91.6
2023 Coverage Stats: gave up 13 catches on 40 targets for 194 yards, 1 TD, 5 interceptions, and a passer RTG of 18.1.
In the last game of Elijah Jones' two years with the Cardinals, he finally gets his chance to play. Versus Matthew Stafford and the Rams at LA:
37 snaps, 3 tackles, 0 missed tackles, 2 pass breakups, QB RTG of 59.0
82.4 OVERALL, 67.0 RDEF, 76.7 TACK, 83.0 COV
Excellent scouting video on Elijah Jones:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei0Pmc6Bz_U
); WJ 82.5 (
)
* Run defense: EJ 71.6 (); WJ 70.8 ()
* Tackling: EJ 69.6 (); WJ 68.2 ()
* Coverage: EJ 91.6 (); WJ 83.3 ()
* 40 Time: EJ 4.44; WJ
* 10-yard split: EJ 1.54; WJ
* Vertical: EJ 42.5"; WJ
* Long Jump: 10'11"; WJBest Position: starter at CB as the most talented and versatile CB on the roster.
Trivia: His father, Keith, is known by the name DJ Alamo, who was a DJ in a critically acclaimed hip hop group Brand Nubian, and Elijah's his mother, Janine, was the first Black model for L'Oreal.
5. S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson
Dadrion Taylor-Demerson is arguably the most important player on the Cardinals defense this season.
Top assets: outstanding versatility as a hard-hitting, quick twitch safety. third-level ball hawk and sticky slot CB.
2025 was a disappointment for the Rabbit. He did not play to the level that he customarily expects.
2024: 75.5 OVERALL, 80.6 RDEF, 53.8 TACK, 70.0 COV
2025: 61.0 OVERALL, 66.4 RDEF, 76.7 TACK,58.6 COV
As an athlete, Rabbit compares very much to Owen Pappoe:
40: Pappoe 4.39 --- Rabbit 4.41
10-Yard Split: Pappoe 1.52 --- Rabbit 1.52
20-Yard Split: Pappoe 2.52 --- Rabbit 2.56
20-Yard Shuttle: Pappoe 4.39 --- Rabbit 4.39
Three Cone: Pappoe 7.19 --- Rabbit 7.00
Vertical: Pappoe: 35.5" --- Rabbit 38"
Speed to Cover the Slot: (this is HUGE!)
Rabbit 4.41 --- Puka Nacua 4.57 --- LAR
Rabbit 4.41 --- Jaxson Smith-Njigba 4.48 --- SEA
Rabbit 4.41 --- Christian McCaffrey 4.48 --- SF
Rabbit 4.41 --- Dante Adams 4.56 --- LAR
Rabbit 4.41 --- Cooper Kupp 4.62 --- SEA
Rabbitt 4.41 --- Christian Kirk 4.47 --- SF
Agility to Cover the Slot (3-Cone times)
Rabbit 7.00 --- Puka Nacua 7.32 --- LAR
Rabbit 7.00 --- Jaxson Smith-Njigba 6.57 --- SEA
Rabbit 7.00 --- Chrsitian McCaffrey 6.57 --- SF
Rabbit 7.00 --- Dante Adams 6.82--- LAR
Rabbit 7.00 --- Cooper Kupp 6.75 --- SEA
Rabbitt 7.00 --- Christian Kirk 7.09 --- SF
The only other candidates on the roster who fit the slot CB speed and agility profile are:
Max Melton: 4.39 and 6.95.
Kitan Crawford: 4.41 and 6.81.
Add Max Melton and Kitan Crawford to the undervalued players list. You agree?
Highlights of DTD's 1st Start for Cardinals:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqsFWbcNCQ8
Best Position: starter at safety and slot CB
Trivia: As a senior at Carl Albert High School (Midwest City, Oklahoma), he was named the Oklahoma 5A Player of the Year --- as a RB --- rushing for 1,365 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Red Rain Questions:
There are so many underdeveloped players on the defense. Which of my top 5 choices do you agree with and which players not mentioned would you make a case for?
Hope these "undervalued players" articles were worth your time and effort.
Red Rain Podcast Update --- unless there is a significant news flash regarding the Cardinals, we are taking a break this week.
We would love to hear suggestions about future podcast topics. What would intrigue you?
I think you can include entire roster of defensive players (save Baker) that all have something to prove this year. The whole defensive unit is being written off as worthless, worst in NFL. This to spite fact that MO has invested more heavily on Defensive side of ball in FA & Draft then offensive side of ball. We have a lot of talent (undeveloped) on this roster. I still believe the fault lies more with our coaching. Last year this defense gave up on itself. They want to blame it all on injuries - BS.
ReplyDeleteThe Biggest need for our Defense is for our rookie DC (Rallis) to grow into his 'inflated' position.
Are our coaching staff built to develop and get more than a college level player in the NFL? I for one am sick of watching our draft picks be JAG's with Cardinals only to become better once they leave the organization. Is there no pride left in the Cardinals building?
This is so good
DeleteWalt- These kids are undervalued for sure. Here's my list of others...
ReplyDeleteOLB Jordan Burch: As a rookie he was buried on the depth chart, but with Rallis rotating his edge rushers and a crowded room featuring Sweat, Collins, Ojulari, and Browning, the question was always how many snaps there would be. Burch needs opportunity, not development — his college production says he's ready;
OLB BJ Ojulari:Two years essentially lost to injury for a player who showed legitimate pass-rush chops as a rookie. With a healthy offseason, Ojulari entering year four is the most intriguing bounce-back candidate on the defense. If he recaptures that rookie form, the Cardinals suddenly have real depth on the edge behind Sweat;
DT Dante Stills: Reliable rotational presence in the interior for two years now. He's sturdy against the run, holds his gap, and gives the coaching staff exactly what they ask of him.
Then there's the Pappoe situation- genuinely baffling. The speed comparison to Fred Warner alone should have warranted more snaps. With new head coach Mike LaFleur taking over and Rallis retained as DC, the real question is whether fresh eyes at the top of the org chart force a harder look at who's actually earning playing time versus who's just comfortable in the rotation. Pappoe, Ojulari, Elijah Jones, and Burch could all make that argument loudly if given the chance.
Strong cases for Burch, Ojulari and Stills, Sam. Contract year for B.J. and Dante. I wanted to add Kei'Trel Clark. I love that baller. Great on STs too.
Delete