Arizona Cardinals free agency preview: Outside linebacker
Arizona Cardinals free agency preview: Outside linebacker With free agency approaching, a look at the Cardinals' offseason needs at outside linebacker.
NFL free agency begins next week on Monday with the opening of the contact and negotiation window with players whose contracts expire on March 12 and become free agents. The Arizona Cardinals will be active, although it is uncertain how aggressive they will be or how much money they will spend.
But before that happens, we will take a look at each position group, see who is on the roster, who will be free agents and what their need at the position is for the offseason.
Let's look at the situation on the defensive edge at outside linebacker.
Outside linebackers under contract
Zaven Collins: Signed through 2026, $6.0 million cap hit in 2025
BJ Ojulari: Signed through 2026, $2.3 million cap hit in 2025
Xavier Thomas: Signed through 2027, $1.1 million cap hit in 2025
Benton Whitley: Signed through 2025, $1.1 million cap hit
Elliott Brown: Signed through 2027, $840,000 cap hit in 2025
Pending free agents
Dennis Gardeck
Baron Browning
Jesse Luketa (restricted free agent)
Victor Dimukeje
Julian Okwara
Offseason need
This is a position of concern. Collins led the team with only five sacks. They believe in Ojulari's ability to be an impact pass rusher, but he will be coming off a torn ACL. They traded for Browning and want to re-sign him, so we shall see what happens.
Could they be big players in free agency and use some of their extensive cap space to sign an impact player with proven production?
Notable free agent edge defenders
Josh Sweat
Haason Reddick
Joey Bosa
Khalil Mack
Harold Landry
Preston Smith
Chase Young
Charles Omenihu
Azeez Ojulari
Malcolm Koonce
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
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