Cardinals Free Agency Tracker: EDGE Odafe Oweh

The Arizona Cardinals hit a home run last year in free agency by signing DT Calais Campbell and EDGE edge rusher Josh Sweat. Both players had an outstanding season and were worth every dollar they received.

And now, here she is, about to begin this year’s version of free agency. Who will Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort sign to help this year’s roster?

Hopefully Ossenfort will continue to help the defensive line. For starters, he can re-sign Campbell to another contract and keep him around for at least another year. Then write a really good EDGE rusher to close the book with Sweat and throw an assist.

Defensive ends under contract are Dante Stills, Darius Robinson, Zackary Carter, Bilal Nichols and Sweat. The TDs are Dalvin Tomlinson and Walter Nolen.

Free agents in the post room include DT PJ Mustipher and Campbell.

Nichols arrived in Arizona in 2024 on a three-year deal, but last season suffered a neck injury and was subsequently placed on IR in mid-December due to a knee injury. Robinson was drafted late in the first round to solve the rushing problem. Stills was selected in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft and played in all 17 games last year with three starts, but had just 34 tackles and zero sacks. Carter was a late addition to the Cincinnati Bengals last year and ended up on the Cardinals’ practice squad.

Last year, Robinson had just 43 tackles and just one sack. Aren’t players selected in the first round supposed to be high production players? Very quickly?

Currently, none of these advocates are doing what they were hired to do. What the franchise wants is for this dynamic duo to rush the passer on every pass and wreak havoc in the offensive backfield. Sweat and company.

But the only one who continually does this is Sweat.

The Cardinals need help on the defensive line. They own the third pick in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft, and with that selection they will take either an offensive tackle or an EDGE rusher. It’s a pretty safe bet.

Perhaps signing a productive passer in free agency would solve the problem, and hopefully the team can replicate bringing in another player like Sweat.

In free agency, the best EDGE rusher available is Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals. He will command $21 million per year. If the Cardinals can afford it, then jump all over this monster of a passer. Otherwise, there are cheaper, proven options.

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EDGE Odafe Oweh

Los Angeles Chargers

6′-5″, 265 pounds

Age: 24

PFF ranking: 73.7

NFL Draft: 2021 Round 1, pick No. 31 (Ravens)

Honors: All-Big 10 First Team (2020), NFL All-Rookie Team (2021)

40 times: 4.37

2025 season: 12 starts, 28 tackles, 13 QB hits, 7.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 batted passes, 19 pressures, 6 hurries, 5 knockdowns, 8 tackles for loss, 0 forced fumbles, 0 fumble recoveries, 1 touchdown, 2 passes batted, 0 missed tackles, 33 receptions allowed, 347 defensive snaps (50%), 21 special teams snaps (7%)

Oweh is one of the fastest players on any court. He takes off from the rim and has good speed. His low tackling numbers represent his focus on the passer. He had 7.5 sacks in 2025 and could have doubled that number.

He has a prototypical size for a speed runner. Stunning burst with pure athleticism. It has dynamite-infused, fast-twitch explosiveness. Can handle larger offensive tackles with an impressive leg drive.

Negatives include slow reaction time after the snap and not always attacking with consistent sweeping power to hit the offensive tackles’ outside hand.

But one thing Oweh will provide is a quick pass in the corner.

He was only paid $9.57 million after his rookie contract with the Ravens expired, then signed a one-year deal with the Chargers.