Day 3 pick is most likely rookie starter from Arizona Cardinals' 2025 NFL draft class

USA Today

08-05-2025

Day 3 pick is most likely rookie starter from Arizona Cardinals' 2025 NFL draft class The Cardinals' first two draft picks are part of deep and talented position groups. One Day 3 pick could be an every-down player for AZ.
The Arizona Cardinals added seven players in the 2025 NFL draft and the hope is that some can contribute and make an impact as rookies in 2025. Defensive lineman Walter Nolen, their first-round pick, and cornerback Will Johnson, their second-round pick, perhaps have the highest expectations as first- and second-round picks.
However, of all their draft picks, it is a Day 3 selection who has the greatest possibility of significant playing time.
That is linebacker Cody Simon, the Cardinals' fourth-round pick.
Why?
It comes down to the players on the roster at their position.
Nolen is in a room that includes two very good starters in Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell, two established NFL starters in Justin Jones and BIlal Nichols, 2024 first-round draft pick Darius Robinson and then the two defensive linemen who played the best for the Cardinals last season — L.J Collier and Dante Stills. They go seven deep even without Nolen.
Nolen will have a limited role in a rotation of players. So he will have a limited opportunity to play.
What about Johnson?
Well, he has starter potential, but the Cardinals have all four of their main rotational players returning — veteran Sean Murphy-Bunting, budding superstar Garrett Williams, Star Thomas and 2024 second-round pick Max Melton.
Expecting Melton's role to increase in 2025, that would mean Johnson would need to supplant Thomas or Murphy-Bunting just to be a fourth cornerback or play in the same role that Melton did last season.
Third-round pick Jordan Burch, an outside linebacker, is behind Josh Sweat, Zaven Collins, BJ Ojulari and Baron Browning. He would have to beat out Xavier Thomas to be just the fifth OLB in the rotation.
But Simon could viably be a starter and every-down player.
They have an opening as the starting "Mike" inside linebacker job with Kyzir White not being re-signed in free agency. They added Akeem Davis-Gaither, but he has only 11 starts in five NFL season, although he is considered the likely starter. They also added Mykal Walker, but he play almost exclusively on special teams last year.
Simon was Ohio State's brain and defensive quarterback. It isn't crazy to see him beating out Davis-Gaither to be the "Mike," a role that is usually a 100%-of-snaps role on a defense.
Of all the Cardinals' draft picks, it isn't going to be Nolen or Johnson as the most likely starters. It's Simon.
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