Despite signing Josh Sweat to a four-year, $76.4 million contract last offseason, the Arizona Cardinals' pass rush was lackluster in 2025. There were plenty of areas where improvement could’ve been seen, but it wasn’t present at all.
The unit was young, aside from Sweat and Calais Campbell; a full youth movement was underway in the desert. It is safe to say that this will remain the same in 2026, with the unit only getting younger.
Walter Nolen III looks to build off of a solid, yet injury-plagued, rookie season. And as a team, the Cardinals look to get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks, which they can do by following this approach.
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Josh Sweat was solid in his debut season with the Cardinals, recording 12.5 sacks, but he could really use a running mate alongside him this season.
At the beginning of the offseason, it was incredibly safe to say that Monti Ossenfort and the front office would use the No. 3 overall pick to draft offensive line. However, after the signing of Isaac Seumalo, anything is on the table for Arizona with that selection.
Perhaps they could bolster their pass rush in a move that involves trading down into the early teens, as there are plenty of pass rushers in this draft class that can make an impact.
We are thinking Akheem Mesidor out of the University of Miami as the guy for the Cardinals to pair with Josh Sweat. With 12.5 sacks in his senior year with the Hurricanes, this would be an exceptional pick by the front office.
Will Arizona trade down, though, is the question.