Despite finishing 2025 with only three wins, the Cardinals saw one unit take a step forward that not many thought it would, and that is the pass rush. Arizona finished thirteenth in the league in pass rush win rate, winning those reps 41% of the time. On top of that, they placed in the top five in sacks with 59 on the season.
A lot of this has to do with the signing of Josh Sweat, who inked a deal worth four years and $76 million. The Cardinals also saw their first-round pick, Walter Nolen III, make an impact in what was an injury-riddled rookie season.
However, despite the success on the front seven, Arizona was missing one of its top selections from 2023 on that unit. BJ Ojulari, who was selected 41st overall three years ago, missed nearly half of the season while recovering from a torn ACL, MCL, and lateral meniscus.
MORE: Cardinals GM has a funny response when asked about Carson Beck starting immediately
MORE: ESPN predicts when Cardinals fans can expect to see Carson Beck under center
Ojulari, who turned 24 back in early April, finished 2025 with six solo tackles and a sack. But the question remains of what he will look like after a full offseason of rest, and the opportunity to actually ramp up in training camp.
There aren’t many things to be excited about in Arizona this season, with the division being uber competitive and not much of a real chance to compete in 2026. But seeing how Ojulari responds to his injury could be a key talking point, and certainly intriguing to see from a fan's perspective.
Ojulari, paired with the talents of Sweat and Nolen, could be an underrated trio this upcoming season.
Add us as a preferred source on Google