“If you have a girlfriend who’s a 10, why play around?” said Baron Browning after signing a two-year extension with the Cardinals. Philly, after winning the Lombardi, has set an example for franchises out there. That if you want to win, you better be good on both sides of the ball. It just won’t help having a strong O-line or vice versa. So, after going 8-9 this season, the Cardinals are focusing on sorting their roster, following the Eagles‘ cue. HC Jonathan Gannon and the front office began by extending Baron Browning’s contract.

After taking the first step to strengthen the D-line, Arizona added a player to the O-line to help QB Kyler Murray. This season, everyone’s looking for a veteran QB, and the Cardinals are walking the same route. On Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported, “The Cardinals are signing Jacoby Brissett to a two-year, $12.5 million contract that includes $8M guaranteed. Kyler Murray’s new backup.” A bold move by Jonathan Gannon and the Cardinals’ front office to bolster their roster for the upcoming season.

Brissett’s one-year, $8M contract ended with New England this season. The NC State alumni’s NFL journey began with the Pats in 2016. But the team traded him the very next season despite signing him to a four-year rookie contract. Last season was Jacoby Brissett’s second stint with the Pats, which didn’t go quite well. After losing four straight games, the coach benched the 32-year-old, and rookie Drake Maye took over.

In eight games, Jacoby could only rack up 826 yards with two TDs to his name. The veteran QB managed to win just two of the eight games he played. Other than this doubtful move, Arizona also added another player to its defensive lineup. This new addition could be a game-changer for the Cardinals‘ defense, which struggled throughout the entire 2024 season.

Jonathan Gannon and the Cardinals bolster their defense

“I’m used to being the unsung hero… as long as the team wins, I’m happy.” That’s what Dalvin Tomlinson had to say when he was gracing the gridiron as well as the stats column with the Browns. But changing jerseys in the NFL is nothing new.

Dalvin joined forces with Cleveland in 2023 after the Vikings did not offer him an extension. For two years, Tomlinson played all the regular season games with the Browns. The Alabama alum was a huge part of the team’s defensive line. During his two years in Cleveland, Dalvin recorded 54 tackles, 30 QB hits, and six sacks. Tomlinson had inked a four-year extension with the Browns, but the team decided to cut him early.

On Wednesday, Cleveland announced that they are terminating their contract for defensive weapons. Within a few hours, Dalvin found a new home in Arizona. The Cardinals signed the 31-year-old to a two-year deal worth $29M. “Dalvin Tomlinson gets 2 years, for $29M with $16M guaranteed. A really nice deal,” reported Ian Rapoport. So, with Dalvin, the Cardinals have filled the void left by their nose tackle Roy Lopez after he signed with the Lions. 

The veteran tackle would add more depth to Arizona’s D-line. So, it will be interesting to see how Dalvin’s addition changes things for the squad and how many more players the Cardinals will add to their roster now.