The Arizona Cardinals recently brought in four linebackers for a workout and physical. Often, team GMs will bring in an assortment of free agents in order to update their database, just in case one of their rostered players becomes injured.
On the flipside, GM Monti Ossenfort is looking for linebacker help since all four athletes play the same position. None of the current linebackers on the roster have recently been released or have shown up on any injury list.
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The linebackers are Jacob Roberts, Marte Mapu, Kobe King, and Chris Paul, Jr.
King (6’-1”, 250 pounds) was a sixth-round draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2025 out of Penn State. He made the final roster and played in five games, all on special teams, with four tackles. After Week 7, he was waived and picked up by the New York Jets, where he also played on special teams with six tackles. King was waived with an injury designation and reverted to IR the following day. He runs a 4.63 40.
Roberts (6’-1”, 233 pounds) went undrafted in 2024 out of Wake Forest. He then signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL, where he has played for two seasons. Last year, he had four total tackles on defense and 10 special teams tackles. He then signed a reserve/futures contract with the Vikings but was a last-day cut. His 40 time is 4.68.
Paul (6’-1”, 235 pounds) played for Arkansas and then Ole Miss and was taken in Round 5 by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2025 NFL Draft. He ran a 4.63. The Rams cut him on the last cutdown and he was signed to the Seattle Seahawks practice squad two days later. He was waived on August 31 from IR with an injury settlement.
Mapu (6’-3”, 230 pounds) was a third-round selection by the New England Patriots in 2023. He is 26 years old and played for Sacramento State. He played three seasons with New England before being traded to the Houston Texans this spring. On August 24, he was waived/injured. Mapu has played in 44 NFL games with 10 starts and was successful on special teams, where he played 255 snaps last season. His 40 time is 4.59.
It appears Ossenfort is looking for special teams help on punt and kickoff coverage teams with a solid linebacker who is known for making open-field tackles.
