Arizona Cardinals’ GM Monti Ossenfort had a lot going on after last season’s debacle, losing 14 games. Losing does not make anyone feel good, especially if you are the one pulling the puppet strings to make everything work as it should.
So, Ossenfort went to work. He had many goals, but mainly to find capable athletes to fill all of the holes created on the roster by either bad players or guys who were about to leave during free agency.
RELATED: ANALYSIS/GRADING OF FREE AGENTS – OFFENSE
Ossenfort has
signed 20 players to date, with nine dedicated to the offense. ROTB has already gone through an analysis of these signings. And now, the focus is on the four players signed for special teams, and the seven on defense.
ROTB is asking the questions: Is the 2026 version of the Cardinals better? Did Ossenfort cover every need? What will each new free agent offer the roster?
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Defense
The Cardinals had a huge need at defensive tackle since the team let Dalvin Tomlinson go with a year remaining on his deal. Rookie Walter Nolen is the answer if he can stay on the field, and so far, Calais Campbell hasn’t been brought back, although he should. And the safety room lost a good player in Jalen Thompson, who signed with the Dallas Cowboys in free agency.
DT Roy Lopez III (6’-2”, 312 pounds)
Grade: B+
The Cardinals got minimal production out of Tomlinson, so a vacant spot was created. The roster needed a capable body to play alongside Nolen and got it with Lopez, who is coming home being a native son. He is a solid run stuffer and was a great need signing. So, Ossenfort wasted no time in bringing in quality help.
His PFF grade last year was 68.7, not great, but better than most. But more importantly, he will hunt down ballcarriers. He will become a key starter and in the DT rotation. In his two seasons with Arizona, he had 395 snaps (45%) and 467 snaps (46%). Last year with the Detroit Lions, those numbers were 425 (39%). Not to mention, Lopez III is a community guy. He loves the state, he loved the Cardinals growing up, and he is now back home with a new head coach.
DT Andrew Billings (6’-1”, 340 pounds)
Grade: D
Billings is well-traveled and has had only adequate protection for most of his career. Arizona is his seventh NFL team. He is durable with a torn pectoral muscle in 2024, his only main injury. In 2020, he was a pandemic opt-out and missed an entire season. Plenty of experience with 90 starts and 109 games played.
A wide body that gets in the way more than he makes plays, is decent in run support, but will provide little as a pass rusher. Averages 23.9 tackles a season, so his production isn’t that great. Should make the final roster and provide a healthy body in the DT rotation.
DT L. J. Collier (6’-2”, 300 pounds)
Grade: C-
Collier was one of the few defensive players to be re-signed going forward. He has had his issues with being healthy, including a knee injury last year, but when he suits up, he can have a big impact on the defense. Now that Tomlinson is gone, the DT room needs guys who can rotate in, and that’s where Collier will fit.
He provides depth and experience. Collier can also play outside if needed, so he adds versatility. More of a run supporter than a pass rusher. Has just 6.5 sacks in seven seasons.
DE Jonah Williams (6’- 5”, 290 pounds)
Grade: C-
Williams was signed to just a one-year deal, but should be able to fit nicely into the defensive line rotation and provide good depth in this room. He will provide good pass rush, but had a disappointing PFF grade last year of 41.6. Overall, Arizona’s defense ranked #27 this past season, so they needed some new blood.
Last year with the New Orleans Saints, Williams appeared in 15 games with 18 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 5 QB hits, 3 sacks, 8 pressures, 2 knockdowns, 3 hurries, and 0 missed tackles. Williams can provide a decent player who will come in and bring high energy to the huddle. He is dependable at tackling with a quick first step. Extremely intelligent. High character, a great physique, and can disrupt the pocket.
LB Jack Gibbens (6’-3”, 245 pounds)
Grade: B-
Good speed (4.82) for a linebacker whom Ossenfort inked to a two-year contract. Durable player who had an ankle issue in 2024, but has been healthy otherwise. Was a key component of the New England Patriots’ defense last year that ranked #8 overall and #6 against the run. Absolute baller and will track down ballcarriers with sure tackling abilities.
Gibbens had 81 total tackles last year with four batted passes and averaged 7.8 yards per pass completion. Very good tackler, but his coverage skills need improvement as he has struggled against larger tight ends. Should provide good depth to a room that is already strong alongside Mack Wilson, Baron Browning, Zaven Collins, Owen Pappoe, and Cody Simon. Exceptional special teams demon.
CB Starling Thomas V (5’-10”, 194 pounds)
Grade: C+
Thomas missed all of 2025 with a horrific ACL injury in training camp. He was a really good insert player in 2023 when he had seven starts with 38 tackles, then became the starter in 2024 with 47 tackles and six batted passes. Having him back solidifies the cornerback room and provides Arizona with deep rotation with a guy who is used to starting and could easily slide into the nickel role with experience.
S Andrew Wingard (6’-0”, 200 pounds)
Grade: B-
This is a solid signing for Ossenfort. Wingard can slide into Thompson’s role to pair with Budda Baker and never miss a beat. He is a nasty tackler and can play multiple positions, including linebacker, while in the 4-2-5 alignment. The fanbase in Jacksonville was enamored with Wingard and considered him a Jaguars legend. He was part of a defense last year that was #1 against the run, as Wingard is a willing tackler.
For his career, Wingard has played seven NFL seasons and been in 102 games with 44 starts, 349 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 6 interceptions, 6 QB hits, 2 sacks, 22 batted passes, two fumble recoveries, 4 knockdowns, 9 hurries, 15 pressures, and 37 missed tackles.
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Special Teams
At first glance of the 2026 Cardinals free agent register, every player associated with special teams was on that list. Immediately, Arizona fans went “rut roh.” But Ossenfort reviewed the status of this group and brought in two new bodies to meld with the duo of returning specialists.
Long snapper Casey Kreiter (6’-1”, 250 pounds)
Grade: A
Kreiter has been consistent and does not skip the ball off the turf. A steady hand provides the pass to exactly where both the punter and holder need the ball to be. He made the Pro Bowl in 2018.
He was with the New York Football Giants for six years and beat out longtime snapper Zak DeOssie. Has since played in 159 NFL contests and is also a sure tackler. Has played 1,341 special teams snaps. This is a tremendous signing.
Kicker Chad Ryland (6’-0”, 195 pounds)
Grade: C+
Last year, Ryland converted 25 of 36 field goal attempts for a 75.8 completion ratio. This declined from an 87.5 ratio the year before. He made all 36 PATs. He was excellent on kickoff placement with just 20 touchbacks. Ryland ranked #30 in field goal conversion percentage in the league this past year.
Ryland’s stats annually reflect what the offense is doing. Unfortunately for him, last year, Arizona had a horrible offense, which didn’t get into field goal range enough that could have provided him more opportunities.
Punter Blake Gillikin (6’-2”, 196 pounds)
Grade: A
The league punting for average lead last year was shared with Gillikin and Daniel Whelan of the Green Bay Packers, with a 51.7 yards per punt average. Gillikin also led the league in net average with 45.4 yards per average. That’s pretty damn good on both accounts.
Gillikin is a weapon in the field position aspect. He doesn’t boom 70-yard kicks as some punters do, but he can place the ball inside the 10-yard line quite often. Has been with Arizona for four years now. The only thing troubling about this signing was the lack of a longer-term deal instead of inking him to a one-year contract.
KR Devin Duvernay (5’-11”, 202 pounds)
Grade: A-
Absolutely a great signing. He does provide depth in the receiver room, but his ability to return punts and kickoffs is why Ossenfort brought him in. A key weapon that the Cardinals have missed for some time. Solid in special teams that will elevate Arizona’s battle for field position.
Smart acquisition protecting the special teams units. That’s clean execution with speed clocked at 4.39. And he is a good receiver as well. In his senior year in college, he had 1,389 receiving yards on 106 receptions with nine touchdowns. In his six seasons, he has returned 109 punts for 1,284 yards with an 11.0 yards per return average. On kickoffs, Duvernay has taken 127 kicks for 3,231 yards with two touchdowns and a 25.4 yards per return average.
