Why 2025 Is a Big Gamble for Arizona Cardinals GM
The Arizona Cardinals’ general manager, Monti Ossenfort, has made bold moves this offseason to reshape the team, particularly on defense. While no one can question his effort to improve the roster for a crucial 2025 season, the strategy comes with a fair amount of risk.
High Stakes Defensive Investments
Ossenfort has been aggressive in upgrading the defense, spending big on key free agents, and that alone carries significant risk. He handed pass rusher Josh Sweat a four-year, $76.4 million deal, signed defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson to a two-year, $29 million contract, and also re-signed veteran Calais Campbell for $5 million.
The risk here is similar to the gamble he took last year with Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols: Can these players stay healthy and deliver enough performance to justify their hefty contracts?
While there’s a good chance these additions will outperform previous signings, the question remains. Arizona has plenty of cap space to make these moves, but the risk of investing so heavily in players who may not pan out is always present.
Risk in Neglecting the Offense
While the defense was a major area of concern for the Cardinals, Ossenfort chose to focus almost exclusively on that side of the ball, leaving the offense largely untouched aside from a few minor signings and reunions. Arizona’s offense was just as inconsistent as its defense in 2024, and if that continues, the team will be relying heavily on the defense to carry the load — something that could backfire if defensive struggles arise.
Ossenfort’s decision not to invest more in the offense means the team has to rely on improvement from within, hoping the defense can step up without any major setbacks. A failure to improve offensively could severely limit the team’s overall progress in 2025.
A Risky But Calculated Approach
Despite the risks, Ossenfort’s job security isn’t on the line for 2025’s success (or failure), barring a catastrophic outcome. Still, his offseason moves have certainly been bold, with little room for error.
The Cardinals need to be competitive in 2025 and remain in the playoff conversation throughout the season, if not the whole year. While a playoff berth isn’t guaranteed, the expectation is that the team should at least be relevant in the playoff race.
Ultimately, it’s still unclear whether Ossenfort’s defensive-heavy investments will pay off. While the strategy looks promising on paper, only time will tell if these moves will translate into improved results on the field.
Leave a Reply