In one of the more feel-good moments of the 2025 NFL offseason, Calais Campbell has returned to the Arizona Cardinals for his 18th season in the league. He spent his first nine seasons with the Cardinals, and he now returns to, presumably, finish his career. Campbell signed a one-year deal worth $5.5 million after an impressive season with the Miami Dolphins in which he produced five sacks.
At the NFL owners meeting, before the Campbell signing, general manager Monti Ossenfort said, “there isn’t one spot where we are like, we have to have that at 16 because we have to have someone immediately go in there.”
Ossenfort has made a point of patching the clear needs on Arizona’s roster. Calais Campbell, while potentially limited in his snap count, fills the Cardinals glaring need on the interior of the defensive line. With the NFL Draft on the horizon, how will the Calais Campbell signing impact the Arizona Cardinals draft strategy?
How does Calais Campbell change the Cardinals strategy in the NFL Draft?
Prior to signing Calais Campbell, Justin Jones was set to hold one of the three starting spots on the Cardinals interior defensive line. While Jones was passable in the three games he played for Arizona in 2024, the Cardinals needed to add more talent at the position. They lacked both depth and starting-level talent up front. Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant was a popular pick for Arizona in the first round.
After both the Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson signings, the Arizona Cardinals have created some flexibility in the draft. Even if he doesn’t command a full-time role, Campbell will be a key part of Arizona’s rotation up front.
The interior of the defensive line is no longer the glaring need that it was previously. While the Cardinals could still benefit from adding talent at multiple positions, including interior defensive line, this roster does not have an obvious area of weakness.
The Cardinals can now afford to simply select the best player available with the 16th pick, almost regardless of position. If a player like William Johnson or Jahdae Barron falls to them, Arizona is no longer hamstrung by their need on the interior.
Arizona has the ultimate flexibility in the NFL Draft
Of course, Calais Campbell doesn’t prevent the Arizona Cardinals from selecting an interior defensive lineman early in the draft. Campbell is 38 years old and entering his 18th season in the league. He is not a long-term solution for the Cardinals defensive front. At 31 years old, Dalvin Tomlinson isn’t either. If anything, these players could serve as the perfect mentors for a rookie.
Monti Ossenfort and the Cardinals could absolutely still draft Kenneth Grant, or another defensive tackle, in the first round. Whatever their decision, this team is set up to compete in 2025.
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