GLENDALE – While the offense has 10 of 11 returning faces in its season opener vs, the New Orleans Saints, the Arizona Cardinals defense is a completely different story. Millions spent in free agency and six newly-drafted defensive players in the 2025 draft, has Arizona primed to make a massive leap compared to last year.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Plenty of pressure for the defense to live up to the hype, with the marquee name of the bunch being edge rusher Josh Sweat. After signing a four-year, $76.4 million deal, Sweat has all the weight on his shoulders to turn the Cardinals pass rusher from worst to not terrible.
Cardinals Trey Benson (33) and Josh Sweat (10) warm up on the sidelines during a preseason game against the Raiders at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Aug. 23, 2025. © Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
What Sweat needs to bring in Cardinals season opener:
Sweat will not be alone, as defensive tackles Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson are new signees that will surely bring the pressure up the middle vs. New Orleans. While former draft picks like Dalvin Tomlinson and Jordan Burch have the edge on lock after an impressive preseason and training camp.
However, Sweat has the second-highest value contract on the team behind quarterback Kyler Murray. The franchise invested money in signing a Pro Bowl talent, a feat rarely done in the past decade. Sweat is in the prime of his career and coming off one of the most dominant Super Bowl performances from a defensive player of All-Time.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Josh Sweat (10) works out during the team’s practice at State Farm Stadium on July 29, 2025. © Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Sunday’s game against the Saints will be his first game since that performance. Following that outing might be next to be impossible, but Sweat will need to show that same intensity and give the Cardinals pass rush a much-needed boost. If Sweat can have a strong debut, it sets the tone for the defensive front for the rest of the season, while showing ownership that paying for players in free agency leads to results.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
