Arizona Cardinals Defensive Depth Chart

Where did the Cardinals free agent signees rank on Mike Clay’s UFA ranking chart?

Here is the Cardinals’ update defensive depth chart per Ourlad’s:(link below)

2024 Arizona Cardinals Depth Chart | Ourlads.com

• LDE 91Collier, L.J. U/Sea —- 79Hoskins, Phil SF23
• NT Nichols, Bilal U/LV —- 98 Lopez, Roy SF23 —- 96Jones, Naquan SF23
• RDEJones, Justin U/Chi —- 55Stills, Dante 23/6 —- 90Stille, Ben W/Cle
• LOLB 25Collins, Zaven 21/1 —- 18Ojulari, BJ 23/2 —- 43Luketa, Jesse 22/7 —- 97Thomas, Cameron 22/3
• LILB 7White, Kyzir U/Phi —- 56 Barnes, Krys FA23 —-58Maddox-Williams, Tyreek SF23
• RILB Wilson Sr., Mack U/NE —- 44Pappoe, Owen 23/5 —- 53Nowaske, Trevor W/Det
• ROLB 45Gardeck, Dennis CF18 —- 52Dimukeje, Victor 21/6 —- 50Smith, Tyreke P/Sea
• CB 24Thomas V, Starling W/Det —- 27Wilson, Divaad CF23 —- 48McMichael, Kyler W/Buf
• SS 34Thompson, Jalen 19 S/5 —- 36Chachere, Andre W/Phi —- 35McKinley III, Verone SF23
• FS 3Baker, Budda 17/2 —- 32Blount, Joey SF23 —- 28Knight, Qwuantrezz P/SFR
• CB Murphy-Bunting, Sean U/Ten —- 13Clark, Kei’Trel 23/6 —- Ojemudia, Michael SF24
• NB 21Williams, Garrett 23/3 —- Hall, Darren SF24 —- 38White, Quavian CF23

The 3-year deals that Monti Ossenfort agreed to with CB Sean Murphy-Bunting ($8.5M per), NT Bilal Nichols ($7M per), DT Justin Jones ($10.3M per) and Mack Wilson ($4.3M per) indicate how talented he believes these projected starters and core players are.

Therefore, this now puts the onus on the defensive coaches to make sure that the free agent signees warrant the salaries Monti gave them.

PFF Free Agent rankings:

• Sean Murphy-Bunting —- #152 (projected at $4m a year) —- got $8.5M a year
• Bilal Nichols —- #163 (projected at $5m a year) —- got $7M a year
• Justin Jones —- #191 (projected at $5M a year) —- got $10.3M a year
• Trystan Colon —- #230
• Mack Wilson —- not in top 250
• DeeJay Dallas —- not in top 250
• Krys Barnes —- not in top 250

Mike Clay of ESPN does a great job each off-season of creating a UFA chart with his rankings of the free agents at each position:

According to Mike Clay’s chart —- here is where the Cardinals’ free agent signings ranked:

• Blake Gillikin —- #1 P
• DeeJay Dallas —- #35 RB
• Trystan Colon —- #32 G
• Bilal Nichols —- #28 DI
• Justin Jones —- #29 DI
• Mack Wilson —- #25 LB
• Krys Barnes —- #32 LB
• Sean Murphy-Bunting —- #32 CB

Top Remaining Cardinals Free Agents:

• Marquise Brown —- #5 WR
• Elijah Wilkerson —- #14 G
• Antonio Hamilton —- #22 CB (a full ten spots ahead of SMB, according to Clay)

In light of Clay’s rankings, the Cardinals coaches are going to have to prove Monti and the pro scouting team right.

As we know Monti and JG profess complete organizational alignment.

It would be a testament to their alignment if these new core players on 3-year deals play at the level the GM and the coaches expect.

If for another season the argument from Cardinals’ fans remains that the defense has sh^^ for talent, then that would be an indictment on both the GM and the coaches.

Can you continue to have it both ways? —- By, on the one hand, extolling Monti and JG as outstanding culture setters and football mavens —- and on the other hand by blaming the Cardinals’ subpar play on the lack of talent?

I hope the Cardinals’ roster decisions pay off in a big way. That’s why I voted that I am “moderately excited” about the moves, even as risky (paying more for potential than actual market value) as most of them appear. The signees are in their mid to late 20s and are heading into their primes. That’s a plus.

The bottom line is that Monti’s signings have to be a reflection of how confident he is in JG and the coaching staff to maximize the players’ potential.

If these signings work out, Monti, JG and the coaches could like geniuses.

Because none of the Cardinals’ signees are in CBS’ Top 100: Or NBCs’, or NFL.com’s:

2024 NFL free agency tracker: Updates on where top 100 available free agents are signing this offseason – CBSSports.com

NFL Top 100 2024 free agents: Chris Jones, Kirk Cousins top the list – NBC Sports

Top 101 NFL free agents of 2024: The original ranking

On paper, the Cardinals’ defense looks stronger up the middle than it was last year. It looks a more athletic up front and at the inside LB positions. The depth appears to be improved.

The 3 most significant questions now are:

• 1 —- have the Cardinals done enough thus far to improve their run defense in leaps and bounds?
• 2 —- how can the Cardinals generate a prolific pass rush in 2024?
• 3 —-how can they improve their pass coverage in the secondary at CB and a FS?

2023 Cardinals Defense per PFF:

• 1 —- run defense: 38.2 —- #32
• 2 —- pass rush: 62.7 —- #29
• 3 —- pass coverage: 55.2 —- #29

My opinion:

Monti needs to sign or trade for a high-profile pass rusher or cornerback.

He needs to make at least one big splash that will deliver a bell cow to compliment Budda Baker.

Your thoughts?