Despite all the changes that the Arizona Cardinals have made to the roster and the coaching staff this offseason, obviously not all of the holes have been filled. After losing a franchise record 14 games last year, one offseason is not going to mend all of the issues.
However, hopefully all of the new athletes that GM Monti Ossenfort has signed will pay off and fix the leaks.
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One of the areas that may not have been touched on is a good pass rush from the side
opposite pass rusher Josh Sweat, who is listed as an outside linebacker, but in reality, he is an EDGE rusher.
There was an assumption that Ossenfort would take one of the three elite pass rushers in this year’s NFL draft, but he chose the best running back instead. So, other players at other positions became the focus, such as the offensive line.
Darius Robinson was taken in the first round a few years ago to become the pass rusher on that left side. Zaven Collins has become the main guy on that side with Baron Browning as his backup. Both players have been given a good number of snaps.
Is this enough? Are these players taking care of the opposite side’s pass rush?
Should the Cardinals bring in another player?
Let’s look at last year’s stats:
- Collins: 9 starts, 543 snaps, 40 total tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 10 QB hits, 7 knockdowns, 11 pressures, 2 hurries, and 4 missed tackles
- Browning: 7 starts, 519 snaps, 34 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, 5 QB hits, 3 knockdowns, 7 pressures, 2 hurries, and 5 missed tackles
- Robinson: 12 starts, 507 snaps, 43 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, 2 QB hits, 1 knockdown, 5 pressures, 3 hurries, and 1 missed tackle
Jadeveon Clowney is well-known for his pass-rushing skills. He is currently a free agent and available. It has been documented that two teams have contacted him about signing for the 2026 season. One is the Cleveland Browns. The other has been identified as an NFC West Division team.
Is the other club the Cardinals?
Most likely, it isn’t the Los Angeles Rams. When Clowney was a member of the Browns from 2022-2023, he and DE Myles Garrett butted heads and did not get along. At all. Now, Garrett is with the Rams.
Clowney played for the Seattle Seahawks in 2019 and had a weak production year. The San Francisco 49ers continue to compete for a playoff spot, and if a player can help them with additional pass rush, they could be interested. The Cardinals are in the midst of a full rebuild with a roster full of new players and coaches and are in need of additional pass rush.
Clowney’s career is full of inconsistency. He has 29 sacks early in his time with the Houston Texans. After leaving Houston, he had a lull in production. Over the past three seasons, he has 23.5 sacks, marking a resurgence in his pass rush production.
In his final year with Cleveland, he had only two sacks and 28 total tackles. Since then, he played for the Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, and the Dallas Cowboys in 2025. He had 9.5 sacks with the Ravens, but they did not continue his contract. He inked a two-year deal with Dallas, but after one season, that franchise cut him loose.
According to Jordan Schultz, Cleveland has at least one other competitor for Clowney’s services and mentioned that club resides in the NFC West.
Clowney has played 12 seasons and has been named to three Pro Bowls. He has 450 total tackles, 120 tackles for loss, 66.5 sacks, 36 batted passes, 1 interception, 16 forced fumbles, 11 fumble recoveries, 149 QB hits, 54 knockdowns, 95 hurries, 200 pressures, and 36 missed tackles.
Arizona has a very good defensive backfield with both the cornerback group and the safety room. The linebackers are an improved unit. The defensive tackle position could be solved if players stop being injured and landing on IR.
Clowney’s contracts have not been significant. He made under $5 million with Baltimore and Dallas, while pulling in just under $10 million with the Panthers in 2024. If Ossenfort brought him in on the cheap with a one-year deal, it wouldn’t break the bank, and he just might provide that pass rusher opposite Sweat that Arizona is missing.
Clowney might become the last piece of the defensive puzzle for this year’s Cardinals’ defense.
