It seems like the Arizona Cardinals defense went from being one of the least talented units in the NFL to one of the most in a matter of months. The team has added talent left and right on the defensive side of the ball. They should be set for a major improvent in 2025.
While bigger names like Josh Sweat and Walter Nolen will command most of the attention leading up to the season kickoff, one defender could quietly be set for a big year.
Baron Browning set for a bounce-back season
One of the Arizona Cardinals' most important moves of the 2025 offseason didn't actually happen in the 2025 offseason. In Week 10 of the 2024 season, the Cardinals traded a sixth-round draft pick to the Denver Broncos in exchange for edge defender Baron Browning. Browning had taken a back seat on the Broncos' defense, and the Cardinals took a chance on him for a relatively low price.
Baron Browning appeared in eight games for the Cardinals, starting in just one. In those eight games, he produced just two sacks. But, according to one analyst, Browning is set to bounce back in 2025.
PFF analyst Dalton Wasserman recently listed one bounce-back candidate for every NFL team. For the Arizona Cardinals, he chose Baron Browning.
While Browning's sack production left something to be desired last season, the underlying metrics show that he was more impactful than one might think. As Wasserman ntes, "From Weeks 10 through 18 last season, Browning ranked 16th among qualified edge defenders with a 77.3 pass-rush grade. He also ranked sixth among that same group with an 18.6% pass-rush win rate."
Baron Browning might be more limited in his role this season, but that might actually help him to be more productive. The additions of Josh Sweat and Jordan Burch, and the return of a healthy B.J. Ojulari will allow Browning to stay fresh throughout each game.
Browning struggles heavily when defending the run. He's undersized for his position at just 240 pounds, and it shows when he tries to set the edge. Last season, Browning earned a total run defense grade of 43.5 from PFF. With the additions to the Cardinals' front line, Browning will likely not be asked to defend the run on early downs quite as much. He can instead take on the ideal role of a situational pass rusher, rotating in with the team's other edge defenders.
A bounce back from Baron Browning, along with solid performances from other key members of the defense, could be key in helping the Arizona Cardinals reach the playoffs in 2025.