Even though the Cardinals did not make it to the playoffs, they were one of the most improved NFL sides last season. James Conner being the nucleus of Jonathan Gannon’s team, Arizona recorded 8 wins in 2024 compared to just 4 in 2023. No doubt Conner was the best Cardinals player last season, but there was another star who was able to leave his mark in just 3 months of his time in Arizona. Just back in November, Arizona traded their sixth-round pick in the 2025 draft to acquire outside linebacker Baron Browning. The Cardinals’ outside linebackers coach Rob Rodriguez knew exactly what Browning brought to the table within a week of landing Browning in Arizona.

“He has an arsenal, so I don’t have to teach him a lot of moves,” Rodriguez said. “(It’s) refining stuff that matches our scheme (and) getting him in the right angles just to make sure that it all spaces out right.” Well, Browning delivered a solid season, so much so that the Cardinals’ head coach was eager to keep him around long-term. There was one issue though—his contract only ran through the 2024 season. But not anymore.

NFL teams live and die by their off-season moves, and the Arizona Cardinals just made it clear—they’re not here to play around. While other squads are still figuring out their next steps, the Cards locked in one of their key defensive pieces before free agency even opened.

Big-brain move.

Arizona just secured outside linebacker Baron Browning on a two-year, $15 million bag (with a potential $19 million), making sure he stays put instead of testing the market. While there is no official word out yet, an ESPN report confirmed the signing. That’s a major W for both sides—Browning gets paid, and the Cards keep a rising pass-rushing beast in their lineup.

So, what does Browning bring to the table? Speed, versatility, and straight-up chaos off the edge. The Broncos originally drafted him in 2021, but he kept getting moved around between inside and outside linebacker, which kinda slowed his growth. But ever since landing in Arizona last season, he’s been locked in. In just eight games, he racked up two sacks, three QB hits, and four tackles for loss—not eye-popping stats, but enough to prove he’s cooking in the right system.

His “I’m HIM” moment? Back when he was in Denver, Browing absolutely torched the Seahawks. Five run stops and five QB pressures, and he was basically living in the backfield. That’s the kind of energy Arizona is hoping to see more of.

The Cardinals clearly believe he’s got even more in the tank. His old Broncos coach, Vic Fangio, once said, “Good athlete, runs really well. He’s got versatility. Sometimes his versatility has hurt him a little bit in his development.” Translation? He is a freak athlete, but bouncing between positions kinda held him back. Now that he has found a stable role, the Cardinals are betting big that he’s about to take off.

Baron Browning himself is not just here to rely on raw talent—he’s locked in on becoming a technician. “I want to be known more as a technician. I don’t want to be known as a guy who is an athlete,” he once said. Love that mindset. Arizona clearly does too, which is why they’re handing him the bag before he can even think about leaving.

Even Sean Payton hyped him up, saying, “It’s an important position in this defense“. While emphasizing that outside linebackers need to dominate both the run game and passing downs. Browning knows the assignment. “I think the outside linebackers play a very pivotal role in this defense, so we’re just trying to be the leaders of the defense and make plays every day.” That’s exactly the kind of energy Arizona wants in their locker room.

At the end of the day, locking in Baron Browning before free agency even kicks off is a certified power move. The Cardinals aren’t waiting around—they’re stacking their defense now. If Browning keeps leveling up as they expect, this deal is gonna look like an absolute steal.

“Good QBs are on good teams”—Jonathan Gannon calls out Kyler Murray

Kyler Murray has been that dude for the Cardinals—crazy athletic, highlight-reel plays, the whole package. But after another season that started with promise and ended in mid, people are starting to ask the real questions. Is Kyler the problem? or is it the O-line? Or maybe the coaching? Well, Jonathan Gannon might not have answered those exact questions, but his latest comment speaks a lot about what does he thinks of his QB1.

“It’s good teams. That’s what it is. Good quarterbacks are on good teams.” Yeah, he really said that. Basically, Gannon told Kyler to quit acting like he’s been carrying scrubs because this roster was stacked. The Cards had one of the best O-lines in the league, a fire run game, and straight-up weapons like Trey McBride, James Conner, and rookie superstar Marvin Harrison Jr. But even with all that, they fell apart after the bye week—and Kyler’s turnovers were a big reason why.

Dude went from playing his best football in the Cards’ four-game win streak to straight-up panic-passing to defenders post-bye. And while some fans tried blaming the O-line, the receipts say otherwise—the Cardinals’ line was actually ranked first in the NFL over the final month of the season. Yeah… that ain’t the issue.

And this isn’t even a new thing. The Cardinals had top-10 offenses in 2020 and 2021, too, yet the same pattern keeps happening—fast start, ugly finish. That’s why Gannon’s message hit differently. He basically told Kyler that if you wanna be in the elite QB convo, you gotta stop with the hero ball and start making winning plays.

This wasn’t just some casual convo—this was a full-on challenge. The Cardinals are riding with a $37 million guy, but they need him to take that next step. No more excuses. No more ‘I gotta be Superman‘ talk. If he really wants to be that guy, it’s time to show it.

Alright, Kyler—what’s the move?