The Arizona Cardinals were among the NFL’s busiest this offseason, whether it be through free agency, the 2025 NFL Draft or an obvious contract extension.
And the work didn’t go unnoticed, with ESPN’s Seth Walder giving the Cardinals an A- in his offseason grades released Thursday.
Arizona was one of just four teams that received an A- or higher in Walder’s ranking.
Anchoring the Cardinals’ high mark was the addition of pass rusher Josh Sweat, albeit with a caveat, this free agency.
Sweat, who got a four-year deal averaging $19.1 million, was coming off an incredible Super Bowl in which he recorded 2.5 sacks and was a contender for game MVP. In some ways I was surprised he didn’t get more money, but there are reasons to be skeptical.
In 2024, Sweat’s pass rush get-off (time to cross the line of scrimmage) slowed from 0.73 seconds to 0.85. And his pass rush win rate at edge fell substantially, too, from 20% in 2023 (above average) to 11% (below average). Before 2024, Sweat had had three consecutive seasons of 20%-plus pass rush win rates at edge, topping out at 26% in 2021. Though he had a great finish, I’d have been more bullish on Sweat a year ago. He has also had only one season with double-digit sacks.
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Even with the negatives Walder pointed out, Sweat still fills an obvious need for the Cardinals defense and is coming off one of his best seasons as a pro.
On top of his eight sacks, nine tackles for loss and 15 QB hits in 16 regular season games (15 starts), the pass rusher added 2.5 sacks, two tackles for loss and three QB hits in Philadelphia’s Super Bowl win.
For a Cardinals team that was paced by Zaven Collins’ five sacks last year, Sweat should be an immediate upgrade, especially given his ties to head coach Jonathan Gannon (former Eagles defensive coordinator). Some of Sweat’s best seasons came working under Gannon. That includes his career marks of 11 sacks and 15 tackles for loss in 2022.
Trey McBride’s contract extension bumps up Cardinals’ offseason grade
Aside from bringing in premium talent like Sweat, the Cardinals made sure to lock up one of their own in tight end Trey McBride.
Inking a four-year deal this offseason — and becoming the highest-paid tight end for a few weeks — Arizona’s most trusted pass catcher isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
McBride had a very efficient 2.32 yards per route run (and totaled 1,146 receiving yards) in 2024, performing as one of the league’s best tight ends. The money puts him near the top of the tight end market but is slightly cheaper per year, after adjusting for salary cap inflation, than what the Patriots gave Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry in 2021.
Arizona’s smaller moves — signing Jacoby Brissett and Calais Campbell — proved impactful toward their overall grade, too.
The one issue to the Cardinals’ offseason
If there was one avenue Walder was not on board with, it’s the decision against bringing back starting right guard Will Hernandez.
Hernandez tore his left ACL early last season but put up a very solid 94.6% pass block win rate or higher before the injury and in each of the previous two seasons.
While Hernandez remains unsigned — and his health status unclear — the Cardinals appear to have their heir apparent at the position in Isaiah Adams.
Behind Adams sit returner Jon Gaines II and newcomers Royce Newman, Jake Curhan and rookie Hayden Conner. Newman (52 games) and Curhan (39) provide the most experience in the group.
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