Cardinals Sign Draft Pick Cody Simon to Rookie Contract
The Arizona Cardinals have officially signed their fourth-round draft pick, linebacker Cody Simon, to a rookie contract.
Simon, selected by the Cardinals in the 2025 NFL Draft, becomes the latest addition to the team’s rookie class, joining fellow signees Jordan Burch, Kitan Crawford, Hayden Conner, and Denzel Burke. Two other rookies, Walter Nolen and Will Johnson, remain unsigned.
Here’s more on Simon from the team’s official release:
Cody Simon’s Journey to Arizona
Standing at 6’2″ and weighing 229 pounds, Simon was a team captain for Ohio State last season, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors after leading the Buckeyes with career-highs in tackles (112), tackles for loss (13), sacks (7.0), and passes defensed (seven). He was named Defensive Player of the Game in both of Ohio State’s playoff victories — at the Rose Bowl against Oregon and in the College Football Playoff National Championship against Notre Dame.
Over his five seasons at Ohio State, Simon played in 58 games (starting 30) and accumulated 259 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 11 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one interception. He also earned academic accolades, being named a four-time OSU Scholar-Athlete and a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
Although Simon was drafted in the fourth round, he has a strong chance of securing early playing time, particularly as an inside linebacker. With the departure of captain Kyzir White, the Cardinals signed Akeem Davis-Gaither to potentially start alongside Mack Wilson. However, there are some uncertainties about Davis-Gaither’s ability to fill White’s role, which could open the door for Simon to make an impact sooner than expected.
Simon’s experience as a defensive leader at Ohio State, where he communicated with teammates through in-helmet signals, could be an asset as he transitions to calling defenses in the NFL.
As described by our analyst Richie Bradshaw, Simon is “an aggressive run defender who moves quickly and efficiently to the ball carrier, and he’s shown the ability to set up his teammates for success.” He also earned the prestigious “Block O” honor at Ohio State, which is awarded to players who demonstrate toughness, accountability, and strong character.
During his introductory press conference with the Cardinals, Simon expressed his eagerness to contribute right away: “I’m ready to go… I need to be as prepared as possible. I know that the game is mental. It’s as much mental as it is physical now, so I need to be ready at all points.”
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