Now that the Cardinals offseason work has concluded, the players are out of the facility. Many have stated that these next few weeks aren't time off from football, but time away from the facility, hoping players remain locked in and prepared to report to Glendale for training camp on July 23. In the meantime, azcardinals.com will take a look and evaluate each position group prior to camp.
Next up, inside linebacker.
LOCKS: Kyzir White, Mack Wilson Sr.
The defense took a major hit once Kyzir White went down with his biceps injury in Week 11. The epitome of what a Nick Rallis defense is intended to look like, White did not miss a single snap prior to the tear. He wore the green dot and was one of the team's more vocal leaders, despite it only being his first season in Arizona. The hard hit on Commanders QB Sam Howell in the season opener set the tone and created the expectation for White's presence on defense. Going into his second season as the quarterback of the defense, White showcased what he can bring to table last year.
When asked why the Cardinals was the best fit for him during free agency, Mack Wilson Sr. said "something is brewing" in the desert. What's cooking is a pair of hard-hitting linebackers that aren't afraid to lay the lumber on their opponents. Wilson will be a great complimentary piece to White, both while on the field at the same time or in place of White.
WORK TO DO: Krys Barnes, Owen Pappoe, Markus Bailey, Trevor Nowaske, Tyreek Maddox-Williams
Krys Barnes and Owen Pappoe were thrust into action last season after White and Josh Woods were sidelined. While both Barnes and Pappoe mostly played on special teams, the experience they gained last season will be incredibly valuable going into 2024. They would likely have the edge over Markus Bailey, Trevor Nowaske, and Tyreek Maddox-Williams, but it'll be a competition to make the 53-man roster in a backup and special teams capacity.
UPGRADE ODDS: Low
The inside linebacker room is one of the units that saw a sneaky improvement during the offseason. White said there's added motivation for him and Wilson after they were snubbed from a rankings list that featured the best linebacker duos.
