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Arizona Cardinals Year 2 player outlook: OLB Xavier Thomas
The Arizona Cardinals drafted 12 players in 2024. Some of them had contributions as rookies. Some will have greater roles in 2025. Others will have to battle for the roster.
They selected outside linebacker Xavier Thomas in the fifth round with the 138th overall pick.
Entering Year 2 in the NFL, let's have a look at his 2025 outlook.
LB Xavier Thomas' 2024 season
Thomas played in 14 games last season and was inactive in three other ones as a healthy scratch.
Most of the season, he was part of the defensive rotation. He logged a total of 208 defensive snaps and finished the season with 10 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, two tackles for loss, a forced fumble and four quarterback hits.
He averaged about 15 defensive snaps per game.
Xavier Thomas' Year 2 outlook in 2025
Thomas doesn't have an easy path to the final roster.
The Cardinals signed Josh Sweat in free agency, re-signed Baron Brown and drafted Jordan Burch in the third round. BJ Ojulari is coming back from a torn ACL. Zaven Collins is still here. He is, at best, No. 6 on the depth chart. Will the Cardinals keep six outside linebackers? That is the question, especially since inside linebacker Mack Wilson and defensive lineman Darius Robinson are versatile enough to play the defensive edge some as welll.
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