The Arizona Cardinals may not be finished building out their defensive front. After signing Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Calais Campbell in free agency, Arizona is looking to the NFL Draft to add even more talent to the group.
According to Mike Garafolo, the Cardinals will use top 30 visits on three of the top edge rushers in the 2025 NFL Draft class.
The move indicates that the Cardinals are hoping to build an elite defensive front with the depth to keep all players fresh. No player had more than five sacks for the Cardinals in 2024. Arizona is clearly being aggressive to correct that problem.
Cardinals to use top 30 visits on three elite edge rushers
Jalon Walker
Georgia's Jalon Walker is a bit of an enigma. He played the majority of his collegiate career as an off-ball linebacker, but he showed flashes of incredible potential as an edge rusher. In just 195 snaps as a pass rusher in his final season at Georgia, Walker produced seven sacks and 22 quarterback hurries, per PFF.
The Cardinals have elected to use one of their top 30 visits on the Georgia product. Cardinals fans may groan at the idea of drafting another "tweener" on defense after mixed results from Zaven Collins, but Walker's elite explosiveness makes him an intriguing prospect.
Mykel Williams
The Cardinals seem to have interest in Jalon Walker's teammate at Georgia, Mykel Williams. Williams, when compared to Walker, is a much more traditional defensive end. At 6'5" and 265 lbs, he has the size and strength to hold up against offensive tackles. Williams has never produced more than six sacks in a season at Georgia, but his traits indicate a high ceiling at the next level.
Mykel Williams currently ranks ninth on ESPN's top 100 big board. If the Cardinals were to select the Georgia defender, they would almost certainly have to use their first-round pick to do so. Williams could play at multiple positions along the defensive front, giving Jonathan Gannon flexibility in his deployment.
James Pearce Jr.
James Pearce Jr., the former Tennessee edge rusher, is one of the most controversial prospects in this year's NFL Draft class. He was incredibly productive in college, producing 21 sacks over his final two seasons. His ability to accelerate off the line of scrimmage and bend around offensive tackles makes him a dangerous pass rusher.
However, character concerns have surfaced regarding the Tennessee product. Reports about Pearce Jr. being a negative presence in the locker room have pushed him down draft boards. He currently ranks 16th on ESPN's top 100 big board.
If the Cardinals do choose to draft Pearce Jr., or any of the rumored pass rushers, they will have fully revamped their defensive front this offseason.
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