The Arizona Cardinals released linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither and defensive lineman Bilal Nichols on Thursday, saving $11 million in cap space for 2026.
Davis-Gaither was signed on a two-year contract last offseason after the Cardinals opted not to re-sign middle linebacker Kyzir White, a 2024 captain.
The 28-year-old Davis-Gaither quietly racked up 117 tackles this past season, second on the team behind safety Budda Baker. He added five passes defensed, an interception and two tackles for loss.
The cut of the linebacker on Thursday leaves $1.5 million in dead money on Arizona’s books but saved the team $5.2 million, according to OverTheCap.com.
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At middle linebacker, Mack Wilson Sr. is still under contract, as is Cody Simon, who got plenty of run toward the end of the year as a rookie fourth-round pick.
Nichols joined Arizona two years ago as a rotational piece along the defensive line but tallied 10 tackles in six games before suffering a season-ending neck injury in 2024. He made it only four games with three tackles into 2025 before a knee injury ended his season.
The Cardinals signed Nichols to a three-year deal in 2024, partially because he’d been a healthy and productive interior lineman with one missed game in his prior four NFL seasons.
His departure leaves $2 million on the books in 2026 but saves Arizona $5.8 million in cap space, per OverTheCap.com.
The Cardinals’ defensive line projects to lean on recent first-round draft picks Darius Robinson and Walter Nolen III, with veteran Calais Campbell a free agent. Veteran Dalvin Tomlinson could possibly return, but he is also an option to be released for cap savings.
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