Arizona Cardinals among most improved teams in 2025 NFL offseason

The Arizona Cardinals are among the most improved teams in the NFL, according to a recent story from NFL.com's Nick Shook.

Shook took a look at seven NFL teams that improved the most in the offseason and he included Arizona.

Shook singled out the team's free-agent acquisitions of Josh Sweat, Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson, writing: "Like another team on this list (New England), Arizona had some money to spend and needs to address. That's how the Cardinals landed edge rusher Josh Sweat, reuniting him with Jonathan Gannon, who helped Sweat enjoy his best seasons in Philadelphia while serving as the Eagles' defensive coordinator. DE Calais Campbell returns to the team with which he spent the first nine seasons of his career. He provides a veteran presence, as does Dalvin Tomlinson, helping to revamp the defensive front in one offseason."

Josh Sweat's addition to the Arizona Cardinals is one of many reasons for optimism for the team in 2025.

Shook's list also included the Chicago Bears, Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New York Jets and Washington Commanders.

He wrote that the Cardinals' draft class could help the team really improve in the upcoming season.

"Rookie DT Walter Nolen (drafted 16th overall) will play a part, too, along with CB Will Johnson, a first-round talent who slid into Round 2 (No. 47) because of concerns about his knee, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, though Johnson later said he's healthy," Shook wrote. "Keep an eye on linebacker Cody Simon, who enters the NFL as a fourth-round pick (No. 115) after enjoying an incredible run through the College Football Playoff with Ohio State, starring in a dominant Rose Bowl win over Oregon and juicing his draft stock along the way."

More positive reviews for Arizona Cardinals' offseason

The Cardinals, and their fans, will take the positive news as they hope for a much-improved 2025.

It's not the only positive review the team has recently received for its offseason transactions.

FOX Sports recently ranked Arizona No. 7 on its list of NFL teams who missed the postseason in 2024, but could make a push in 2025.

David Helman wrote: "Most everything I said about the Seahawks applies to the Cardinals, only there's a lot more continuity in Arizona. I’m such a big fan of what general manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon are building in the desert, I want to believe. Last year, it was the offense that got the offseason makeover; this year, it’s the defense. This isn’t the most star-studded roster in the NFC, but if these defensive upgrades pan out, the Cardinals should be a well-rounded team. The one problem with my plan is that the Cards play in the NFC West, which looks loaded again. They’ll likely need to be better than 3-3 in division play if they want to make some noise."

SB Nation published a story about the six most interesting units in 2025 in the NFL and included the Cardinals' defense as one to watch.

Joseph Acosta wrote: "If you hang out in the hipster areas of football social media long enough, you’ll probably find me or someone else talking about the Arizona Cardinals’ defense. A petri dish of moving parts, shifting fronts and changing pictures, the Cardinals finished the back half of the season in the top ten of defensive EPA per play and sixth in Dropback Success Rate. With their three-high safety defense throwing pocket sand at people, it was hard to diagnose their pass defense. However, they would get run over last season to the tune of a 44.6% Rushing Success Rate because they lacked a lot of size up front. Safe to say the Cardinals want to flip the script this season. Arizona paid big money to EDGE Josh Sweat, brought back DT Calais Campbell and drafted DT Walter Nolen to help rebuild their defensive line. Nolen might be the most boom or bust addition, with his speed and explosiveness making him a tantalizing prospect when he wants to be. In addition, they took a worthwhile swing on CB Will Johnson in the second round to bring in competition in the secondary. I’m a big fan of defensive coordinator Nick Rallis, and now the Cardinals have given him a worthwhile canvas to work with."

Could the Cardinals be in for a much-improved season?