Cardinals Named Fit for Free Agent DL

The Arizona Cardinals should look to boost their game in the trenches.
Dec 29, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (98) and defensive tackle Jordan Davis (90) and defensive tackle Milton Williams (93) during the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Dec 29, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (98) and defensive tackle Jordan Davis (90) and defensive tackle Milton Williams (93) during the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images / Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
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ARIZONA -- The Arizona Cardinals have a handful of top needs approaching the 2025 offseason, though few rank higher than the defensive line.

The Cardinals saw an impressive Year 2 jump from Dante Stills and some exciting reps from Darius Robinson in the limited amount of time we saw from the first-round pick, though Arizona doesn't exactly have a certified game-wrecker along the line of scrimmage.

Pro Football Focus believes a pending free agent could fix that.

In their list of best landing spots, Philadelphia Eagles DL Milton Williams (ranked as the 32nd best free agent) was named as a fit for the Cardinals.

PFF: Milton Williams is Fit for Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals potential free agent target Milton William
Dec 1, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams (93) celebrates as Baltimore Ravens place kicker Justin Tucker (9) reacts to missing a second half field goal at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images / Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

"The 2024 season was a breakout year for Milton as a pass-rusher, earning a stellar 90.6 pass-rush grade — second only to Chris Jones at the position," wrote Mason Cameron.

"Arizona head coach Jonathan Gannon, who enjoyed a prolific pass rush during his time with the Eagles, has yet to replicate that success with the Cardinals. Armed with the NFL’s fourth-highest projected cap space this offseason, the Cardinals are well-positioned to revamp their defensive front. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Gannon target familiar faces from Philadelphia, like Milton, to transform the pass rush in 2025."

The Cardinals certainly have displayed a track record of targeting familiar faces under Gannon and defensive coordinator Nick Rallis, especially Eagles players. With Philadelphia making the Super Bowl, it certainly wouldn't hurt to bring some of that mojo to the desert.

Rallis has done a terrific job dialing up different pressures, though the Cardinals' interior pressure didn't generate a ton of chaos up the middle.

Milton has played in at least 16 games through the first four years of his career and logged a career-best five sacks in 2024 with 12 total pressures on the quarterback.


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Donnie Druin
DONNIE DRUIN

Donnie Druin is the Publisher for All Cardinals and Inside The Suns. Donnie moved to Arizona in 2012 and has been with Fan Nation since 2018. In college he won "Best Sports Column" in the state of Arizona for his section and has previously provided coverage for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona State Sun Devils. Follow Donnie on Twitter @DonnieDruin for more news, updates, analysis and more!