AZ Cardinals Recap and Notes of 2025

Collins logged 40 tackles (26 solo), including 1.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries (one returned for a touchdown) across 17 regular-season games in 2025.

Collins was coming off a productive 2024 campaign in which he logged a career-high 5.0 sacks across 17 games. He was an every-week starter for Arizona from 2022 to 2024 but served in a rotational role in the team’s first seven games of 2025 before starting in nine of the last 10 games, and his tackle and sack numbers were his lowest since his rookie campaign in 2021. Collins enters next season on the final year of a two-year contract extension that he signed with the Cardinals in August 2024.

Campbell registered 43 tackles (23 solo), including 6.5 sacks, and two pass defenses across 17 regular-season games in 2025.

After playing in Miami in 2024, Campbell opted to sign a one-year deal in April with the Cardinals, who drafted him in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He didn’t see as much playing time on defense as he had the two years prior but had his moments, including multi-sack performances in Weeks 2 and 9 against the Panthers and Cowboys, respectively. Campbell was mulling retirement during his Dolphins tenure in 2024 before reuniting with Arizona, and while he’s played every single regular-season game over the last three years, it’s unclear whether the veteran defensive tackle will be back for a 19th NFL campaign.

Burke tallied 49 tackles (34 solo) and 11 pass defenses (three interceptions) across 17 regular-season games in 2025.

Will Johnson and Burke were the two corners that the Cardinals selected in the second and fifth rounds, respectively, of the 2025 NFL Draft. Burke was projected to serve in a rotational role on defense while contributing on special teams but ended up starting in eight games (including six of the final nine games of the season) due to injuries in the secondary, including Sean Murphy-Bunting (knee), Starling Thomas (knee) and Max Melton. Burke’s three picks led Arizona and were second-most among NFL rookies behind Xavier Watts (five), and Watts and Burke tied Nick Emmanwori for the most pass defenses among rookies. Burke’s performance in 2025 could earn him a more consistent role in the team’s defense for his sophomore campaign.

Taylor-Demerson compiled 59 tackles and six pass defenses, including two interceptions, over 12 regular-season games in 2025.

Taylor-Demerson sat out Weeks 11-15 due to an ankle injury, but he otherwise served as the Cardinals‘ third safety behind Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson. A 2024 fourth-round pick, Taylor-Demerson surpassed his rookie tackle tally by 18 and also recorded the first two picks of his career. Considering that Thompson’s contract voids on Feb. 15, Taylor-Demerson could be poised for a starting gig in 2026.

Wilson (ribs) posted 60 tackles, six pass defenses including one interception, and one forced fumble over eight regular-season appearances in 2025.

Wilson played all but two defensive snaps before the Cardinals‘ Week 8 bye, but a rib injury then sidelined him for the rest of the campaign. That allowed rookie fourth-round pick Cody Simon to step into an every-down role alongside Akeem Davis-Gaither. All three off-ball linebackers are under contract next season, so the defensive scheme under new head coach Mike LaFleur will determine who among them takes on starting roles.