The Arizona Cardinals put together an elite draft class. They stacked up talent on defense, filling nearly every hole on the roster.
Some of the Cardinals' picks have fans questioning who will win a starting job in 2025.
Akeem Davis-Gaither could take a back seat after Cardinals draft Cody Simon
Even Arizona's recent free agent signings aren't safe.
The Cardinals signed off-ball linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither to a two-year contract worth $10 million during free agency.
Davis-Gaither played five seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals, totaling over 200 tackles, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions. For a former fourth-round pick, Davis-Gaither has carved out a successful career in the NFL so far.
When he signed with the Cardinals this offseason, Davis-Gaither was expected to take on a starting role alongside Mack Wilson Sr.
Coincidentally, another fourth-round linebacker may be set to supplant Davis-Gaither before he plays a snap as a Cardinal.
After using their first three draft picks on defense, many fans expected the Cardinals to shift their focus to the offensive side of the ball in the fourth round. Arizona still had needs waiting to be addressed at both receiver and guard.
Instead, they continued filling out their defense by drafting former Ohio State linebacker Cody Simon. Monti Ossenfort can never have enough former Ohio State Buckeyes, apparently.
Cody Simon is exactly what teams crave in a middle linebacker. He's smart, physical, and an excellent leader. He was a team captain in his final season at Ohio State. He's a sure tackler with a menacing 6'2" frame. Simon is limited athletically, but he makes up for it with impressive instincts.
In five seasons with the Buckeyes, he totaled over 250 tackles, with 25 tackles for loss. He capped off his collegiate career in the best way possible, winning Defensive MVP in Ohio State's national championship victory over Notre Dame.
Simon has a chance to immediately challenge Akeem Davis-Gaither for a starting job in the Arizona Cardinals defense. His leadership and physicality could make him an instant favorite among fans and coaches. At the very least, this should be an interesting battle in training camp.