ARIZONA CARDINALS NEWS

Mack Wilson Sr. - Puts up 75 tackles this season Wilson posted 75 tackles (including 3.0 sacks), five pass defenses (including one interception) and one fumble recovery in 16 contests during the 2024 campaign.

Impact Wilson kicked off his career with 82 tackles in 2019 but hasn't reached that mark in five seasons since then. His tackle tally in 2024 was the closest he's come to doing so, which was helped along by a 74.3 percent snap share in the games in which he suited up. With fellow linebacker and unrestricted free agent Kyzir White and his 137 tackles potentially moving in the offseason, Wilson, who is under contract through 2026, could be poised for a true breakout next season.

5 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Jalen Thompson - Falls just shy of 100 tackles Thompson tallied 98 tackles, three pass defenses and two fumble recoveries in 15 appearances during the 2024 season.

Impact Since recording 100-plus tackles in both 2021 and 2022, Thompson has taken a step back in that department, falling shy of the century mark in stops in back-to-back campaigns. He also didn't pick off a pass in 2024 for the first time since 2020 after accumulating eight interceptions across the previous three seasons. Thompson has one year remaining on his current contract and will continue to form a productive duo with fellow safety Budda Baker in the fall.

5 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Kyzir White - Puts together productive season White notched 137 tackles (including 2.5 sacks), three pass defenses (including one interception) and a fumble recovery in 17 contests during the 2024 season.

Impact After averaging 4.5 tackles per game through his first three seasons as a pro, White hasn't looked back since breaking out with 144 stops in 2021, reeling off 7.8 per game since the start of that campaign. He even contributed a personal best in sacks this season and didn't miss a contest for the fourth time in his career. White is an unrestricted free agent this offseason and turns 29 in March, so his landing spot likely will determine whether or not he has a chance to replicate his numbers in 2025.

6 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Budda Baker - Records career-high tackle mark Baker racked up 164 tackles, including 2.0 sacks, five pass defenses and one forced fumble in 17 games during the 2024 season.

Impact Since entering the NFL as a second-round pick in the 2017 Draft, Baker hasn't been involved too much in terms of turnovers (just seven interceptions, seven forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries in 122 career contests). However, he's reached the century mark in tackles five times in eight campaigns, including a personal best (by 17) in 2024. Baker is under contract through the 2027 campaign, so the 28-year-old remains locked in as a top IDP option among the league's defensive backs.

6 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Chad Ryland - Steady in place of Prater in 2024 Ryland netted 28 of 32 field-goal attempts and 26 of 27 point-after tries in 13 appearances during the 2024 season.

Impact Ryland lost a job battle against Joey Slye at the end of August in New England, but he was called upon by Arizona in early October to step in for the injured Matt Prater (knee) and ended up kicking for the rest of the Cardinals' campaign. His performance was a far cry from that of his rookie season with the Patriots, when he went just 16-for-25 on FGAs (along with 24-for-25 on PATs) in 17 contests. Ryland's 8.5 points per game ranked tied for sixth among kickers to play in at least nine outings, and he's now the only kicker under contract for Arizona next season. Considering his overall success in 2024, he may not face any competition for the starting gig this offseason.

6 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Rams taking a page from their past playoff success to navigate a short week against Eagles

The Los Angeles Rams have experience handling a short week in the playoffs, even if not all of them remember it

6 HOURS AGO • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Trishton Jackson - Inks futures deal with Arizona The Cardinals signed Jackson to a reserve/future contract Thursday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.

Impact Jackson earned a spot on the Vikings' 53-man roster at the end of training camp, though he played just 12 snaps (10 on offense, two on special teams) across two regular-season games. He was waived off the Vikings' 53-man roster Oct. 20, and while he opted to stay in Minnesota on the practice squad, he was not elevated to the active roster for the rest of the 2024 campaign. Under a futures contract, Jackson will be on the Cardinals' 90-man roster when the new league year starts March 12. He'll have the opportunity to work with the coaching staff during OTAs, minicamp and training camp in the hopes of earning a spot on the Cardinals' 53-man roster for the 2025 regular season.

11 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Quez Watkins - Headed to Arizona Watkins signed a reserve/future contract with the Cardinals on Thursday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.

Impact Watkins spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Eagles, who selected him in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Despite signing a one-year, $1.29 million contract with the Steelers this past March, Watkins wasn't able to earn a spot on Pittsburgh's 53-man roster at the conclusion of training camp. He signed with the Steelers' practice squad in late August, but was not elevated to the active roster during the regular season or the playoffs. Watkins will be a part of the Cardinals' 90-man roster when the new league year starts March 12, and he'll participate in OTAs, minicamp and training camp in the hopes of earning a spot on Arizona's 53-man roster for the 2025 campaign.

11 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Dante Stills - Remains productive in second year Stills finished the 2024 season with 42 total tackles (20 solo), including 4.5 sacks, while also adding a pass defensed and a forced fumble over 16 games.

Impact Still took a slight step up in 2024 in terms of his sack production, adding an extra sack compared to his rookie campaign in 2023. The defensive lineman could step into a starting role in 2025 with current starting defensive end L.J. Collier entering the offseason as an unrestricted free agent.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Dadrion Taylor-Demerson - Strong rookie season in 2024 Taylor-Demerson finished the 2024 season with 37 total tackles (23 solo), five passes defensed, and a forced fumble over 17 games.

Impact Taylor-Demerson split time between the defensive unit and special teams in his rookie season, operating as a primary backup option behind Jalen Thompson at strong safety. Taylor-Demerson figures to operate in a similar role with the team in 2025, but he'll likely look to carve out a little more usage on the defensive side of the ball.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Krys Barnes - Productive in limited role in 2024 Barnes finished the 2024 season with 35 total tackles (19 solo), including 2.0 sacks, over 17 games.

Impact Barnes was able to appear in all 17 games with Arizona this season, spending the majority of his time operating as a special-teams option. The linebacker was able to notch a career-high 2.0 sacks while playing 201 total defensive snaps. Barnes will end the offseason as an unrestricted free agent and he'll likely have no trouble finding another suitor in 2025.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

L.J. Collier - Career year in 2024 Collier finished the 2024 season with 29 total tackles (13 solo), including 3.5 sacks, while also adding two passes defensed and a fumble recovery over 17 games.

Impact Collier had a career year in 2024, setting new career highs in tackles and sacks, while appearing in all 17 games for the first time in his six years in the NFL. The defensive end will enter the offseason as an unrestricted free agent and his 2024 performance will certainly draw the attention of plenty potential suitors.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Starling Thomas V - Progresses in second NFL season Thomas finished the 2024 regular season with 47 tackles (31 solo), six pass defenses and one forced fumble across 17 games.

Impact Thomas started in all but two games during the 2024 season and played at least 30 defensive snaps in 16 of 17 contests. The second-year corner out of UAB has yet to record an interception in a regular-season game, but he's made strides in a young Cardinals secondary consisting of Garrett Williams and rookies Max Melton (wrist) and Elijah Jones (ankle). Thomas and Sean Murphy-Bunting should be the top candidates to start at outside corner for the 2025 season, though both of them will get competition from Melton and Jones during training camp.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Roy Lopez - Productive 2024 campaign Lopez finished the 2024 season with 28 total tackles (10 solo), including 1.0 sacks, while also adding three passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery over 16 games.

Impact Lopez remained a productive asset on the Cardinals' defensive line this season, notching his first career forced fumble in Week 1 versus the Bills. The defensive tackle will enter the offseason as an unrestricted free agent, potentially looking for a new squad in 2025.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Max Melton - Heavy usage in rookie season Melton played all 17 regular-season games in 2024 and finished with 51 tackles (36 solo), five pass defenses and one forced fumble.

Impact Melton was one of seven rookies selected by the Cardinals during the 2024 NFL Draft, and the second-round cornerback out of Rutgers was arguably the most consistent. He finished third among Arizona's corners in combined tackles behind Garrett Williams (58) and Sean Murphy-Bunting (52). In addition to seeing heavy snaps with the Cardinals' first-team defense, Melton showed his value and versatility by serving as a gunner on special teams. Melton and fellow rookie corner Elijah Jones (ankle) will have an opportunity to earn a larger role in the Cardinals' defense in the offseason during OTAs, minicamp and training camp.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Sean Murphy-Bunting - Logs three picks in 2024 Murphy-Bunting finished the 2024 regular seasons with 52 tackles (30 solo), five pass defenses (three interceptions) and two forced fumbles across 15 games.

Impact Murphy-Bunting signed a three-year, $25.5 million contract with the Cardinals in March of 2024 after playing with the Titans in 2023. He finished second in combined tackles among Cardinals' corners behind Garrett Williams (58), and Murphy-Bunting's three interceptions matched a career high he set during his rookie season in 2019 with the Buccaneers. Murphy-Bunting and Starling Thomas project to be Arizona's starting outside corners in 2025, though they should get competition from rookies Max Melton (wrist) and Elijah Jones (ankle) during training camp.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Zaven Collins - Sets career high in sacks Collins played all 17 regular-season games in 2024 and finished with 57 tackles (33 solo), including 5.0 sacks, one pass defense and two forced fumbles.

Impact Collins has accumulated 98 combined tackles over the past two seasons, which is less than his total from the 2022 campaign (100 combined tackles across 16 regular-season games). However, Collins has developed into more of a pass-rushing threat, leading the Cardinals with 5.0 sacks in 2024. He'll look to develop his pass-rushing abilities during the offseason and improve on his numbers during the 2025 campaign.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Naquan Jones - Career high in sacks in 2024 Jones finished the 2024 season with 27 total tackles (11 solo), including 3.0 sacks, while also adding two passes defensed over 12 games.

Impact Jones signed with the Cardinals in late September, nearly matching his career high of 29 tackles in 2021. The defensive tackle did set a new high-water mark with 3.0 sacks and he'll enter the offseason as an unrestricted free agent, potentially looking for a new destination for his fifth NFL campaign.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Julian Okwara - Increased workload in 2024 Okwara finished the 2024 season with 18 total tackles (10 solo), including 1.0 sacks, while also adding a pass defensed over 13 games.

Impact Okwara operated as a depth option at linebacker for the Cardinals in 2024, stepping up on occasion to occupy a significant role on the team's defense. The linebacker matched a career-high in 13 games played and his 18 total tackles were the second highest total of his five-year NFL career. Okwara will enter the offseason as an unrestricted free agent and he'll likely look for another opportunity elsewhere in an attempt to find a starting role.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Baron Browning - Limited production in 2024 Browning finished the 2024 season with 21 total tackles (12 solo), including 2.0 sacks, over 13 games with the Broncos and Cardinals.

Impact Browning suffered a foot injury early in the season, forcing him to be on injured reserve with the Broncos for four weeks before returning in Week 7. The linebacker was then traded to the Cardinals on Nov. 4, spending the final eight games of the year with Arizona. Browning's 21 total tackles were a career low and he'll enter the offseason looking for his next opportunity as an unrestricted free agent.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Garrett Williams - Two picks in second NFL season Williams played in 16 regular-season games in 2024 and finished with 58 tackles (40 solo), nine pass defenses (including two interceptions) and one forced fumble.

Impact The 2023 third-round pick played in just nine regular-season games in his rookie year while recovering from a torn ACL he suffered during his senior year at Syracuse. Williams played all but one game in 2024 and primarily as the Cardinals' slot corner. He could have that same role in 2025, though he could get some competition in training camp from rookie third-rounder Elijah Jones, who missed the entire 2024 campaign due to an ankle injury he suffered in the preseason.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Bears interview former Stanford coach David Shaw for their head coaching job

The Chicago Bears have interviewed former Stanford coach David Shaw for their head coaching job

2 DAYS AGO • ASSOCIATED PRESS

2025 NFL Draft order: Top 24 picks are set, with Titans at No. 1

Check out the latest 2025 NFL Draft order as the NFL postseason continues.

3 DAYS AGO

Rams host wild-card playoff game nearly 400 miles east of LA because of wildfires

The Los Angeles Rams made themselves at home on Monday night for their NFL wild-card playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings — even if their adopted stadium featured an unusual...

3 DAYS AGO • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bears interview Thomas Brown for their coaching vacancy

The Chicago Bears interviewed Thomas Brown for their head coaching vacancy after he ran the team on an interim basis at the end of the season

3 DAYS AGO • ASSOCIATED PRESS