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Cardinals rookie LB primed to be Kyzir White replacement
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

GLENDALE – The Arizona Cardinals are being touted as the biggest winners of the 2025 NFL draft. The marquee names in the first tw0 rounds of DT Walter Nolen and CB Will Johnson has garnered most of the teams praise from experts. However, general manager Monti Ossenfort might’ve gotten the most important piece at 115th with Ohio State linebacker Cody Simon.

What Simon brings to the Cardinals:

After not resigning mike linebacker Kyzir White, the Cardinals needed to find his replacement. The task is easier said then done, but Ossenfort taking Simon in the fourth round is the perfect player to insert into defensive coordinator Nick Rallis’ scheme.

Simon led the national champion Buckeyes’ defense as the field general. In his last season at Ohio State, he recorded 112 tackles, seven sacks, and seven passes defended. Pro Football Focus graded Simon as one of the most elite linebackers in the draft.

Arizona’s linebacker room needs a Simon type of player that has a lot of experience as the “green dot” of a defense. Simon appeared in 57 games at one of the premier programs in the nation at Ohio State. The 23-year-old was the team captain for the Buckeyes and ended his collegiate career with a national champion.

Ossenfort’s draft strategy appeared to take experienced players from winning programs to elevate the team’s defense, drafting three national champions in this past draft. The Cardinals will take a massive leap next season, and it’ll be off the backs of this rookie class, led by Simon, to take that jump.

This article first appeared on Burn City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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NFL

Bears make big decision amid concerning Caleb Williams reports

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Browns' Shedeur Sanders could be losing valuable opportunity after injury update
NFL

Browns' Shedeur Sanders could be losing valuable opportunity after injury update

Just when it seemed everything was going right for Shedeur Sanders, the Cleveland Browns' rookie quarterback caught an unlucky break on Wednesday. The 23-year-old QB was sidelined during Wednesday's joint practice with the Philadelphia Eagles after suffering an oblique injury. Per Kelsey Russo of the team website, the 2025 fifth-round pick won't practice Thursday and is considered day-to-day. He is deemed unlikely to play in Saturday's preseason game against Philadelphia, scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on NFL Network. Before Wednesday's practice, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed rookie QB Dillon Gabriel will start against Philadelphia as long as he's healthy enough to play. The 2025 third-rounder missed Cleveland's preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers because of a hamstring issue. However, Stefanski previously said Sanders would get more reps this week after a solid preseason debut. The former Colorado Buffaloes star received the start in the 30-10 win over Carolina, going 14-of-23 passing for 138 yards and two touchdown passes. Not playing against Philadelphia could disrupt Sanders' momentum. More importantly, it may eliminate another opportunity for him to overtake Gabriel in Cleveland's four-way QB competition. Sanders is listed as the Browns QB4 behind Gabriel, Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco on the team's unofficial depth chart. Despite questions about Gabriel's size (5-foot-11, 205 pounds), the coaching staff seems to favor him over Sanders. Earlier this offseason, Gabriel's processing speed reportedly impressed Browns coaches, giving him an edge over Sanders. The former Oregon Ducks star also received reps with the first-team offense during OTAs and mandatory minicamp, while his fellow rookie didn't. If Gabriel plays well against the Eagles, that would continue to affirm the coaching staff's confidence in the 24-year-old QB. Neither Sanders nor Gabriel is expected to be the Week 1 starter for the Browns. It's likely going to be Flacco, who helped Cleveland make the playoffs in 2023 when he went 4-1 during a late-season stretch. Still, another solid preseason showing could help Sanders position himself to replace 40-year-old Flacco in the future. With the setback, it may take more time to climb the depth chart.

PTO Rumors Swirl Around Several NHL Names for the Oilers
NHL

PTO Rumors Swirl Around Several NHL Names for the Oilers

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Mets manager gives blunt response to blowing six-run lead
MLB

Mets manager gives blunt response to blowing six-run lead

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