What’s the saying? “Offense wins games, defense wins championships?” If that’s true, then the Arizona Cardinals are in a good spot heading into the new season. One analyst believes that the Cardinals may possess all the necessary tools to field a top-tier defense in the upcoming season.
As we know, Jonathan Gannon worked as the Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator before taking over the role as the Cardinals’ head coach. And he’s found a kindred spirit in Nick Rallis, who has helped transform the Cardinal’s defense from Swiss cheese to something denser (like a nice Chèvre or Caerphilly).
While the Cardinals’ defense wasn’t last in the league in 2024, they were closer to the bottom than the top in a lot of analysts’ rankings. Thankfully, one expert thinks that they might have the pieces to go from “terrifyingly bad” to “scary good.”
Cardinals defense could become ‘one of the most feared’ in the NFL
Pro Football Focus’ Dalton Waseerman recapped the NFL teams “best built for success” on June 2. The Cards really love the 3-4 Front formation, with three defensive linemen at the line of scrimmage, four linebackers and four defensive backs. And thanks to the offseason acquisitions, Gannon and Rallis have “a multitude of options when it comes to deploying five defensive linemen at a time,” according to Wasserman.
Wasserman writes:
The Cardinals actually tied for second in the NFL with a 78.0 PFF run-defense grade from a 3-4 front last season. That could improve even further this season after the team added Calais Campbell, Dalvin Tomlinson and Josh Sweat in free agency. The soon-to-be 39-year-old Campbell may be the most impactful of the group in run defense after amazingly leading all interior defenders with an 85.9 PFF run-defense grade last season.
The PFF analyst also credits the Cardinals for picking Walter Nolen in the first round of the 2025 Draft, citing how he finished second behind Mason Graham with a 91.6 PFF run defense grade. He also had 35 pressures as a pass rusher.
“Those additions,” writes Wasserman, “along with incumbents Zaven Collins, Baron Browning and 2024 first-round pick Darius Robinson, could make Arizona’s defensive line one of the most feared units in the league.”
Wasserman still has some questions about the Cardinals’ defense, specifically regarding linebackers and cornerbacks. Wasserman thinks veterans Mack Wilson Sr. and Akeem Davis-Gaither may hold up during the season. “Perhaps Zaven Collins takes an occasional rep there, as well.”
And like everyone else, Wasserman seems tentatively excited about Will Johnson. The Michigan Wolverines' corner scored “an elite 91.3 PFF coverage grade” during his three college seasons. Johnson slid to the second round of the draft over concerns about his knee, but if he is healthy, then Arizona got him at “a steal.”
The Cardinals' cornerback unit ranked 27th last season in PFF coverage, and having Johnson as an outside cornerback would “greatly benefit” the team.
So, if all goes to plan, the Arizona Cardinals defense may leave the opposition quavering in their helmets. Better print up those “Red Scare” t-shirts now (I’ll take a medium).