Cardinals’ Baron Browning viewed as a bounce-back candidate in 2025

Re-signing pass rusher Baron Browning wasn’t the biggest move the Cardinals made this offseason.

Pro Football Focus’ Dalton Wasserman, however, believes the re-up could pay dividends in 2025 and pegs Browning as Arizona’s bounce-back candidate for the upcoming season.

On the surface, the Cardinals extending a player who earned just a 58.0 PFF grade last season may not seem wise. However, Baron Browning found his groove as a pass rusher after being traded to Arizona and could be poised for a return to his 2023 form. From Weeks 10 through 18 last season, Browning ranked 16th among qualified edge defenders with a 77.3 pass-rush grade. He also ranked sixth among that same group with an 18.6% pass-rush win rate. A full season of that level of production would significantly improve the outlook of Arizona’s pass rush.

Following a five-game stretch to start the season and just seven tackles to show for, the former Denver Broncos pass rusher was dealt to the Cardinals for a 2025 sixth-round NFL Draft pick.

In his abbreviated season with Arizona, Browning registered 2.0 sacks, four tackles for loss and three QB hits across eight games (one start).

The sack numbers don’t necessarily jump off the page. His total pressures with the Cardinals, however, do. In just eight games with the franchise, Browning came in fifth for the season among Arizona defenders with 21 pressures, according to NFL Pro. For comparison, Zaven Collins recorded 33 across 17 starts.

Not only that, Browning came in tied for the team lead in quick pressures (under three seconds) with 11 alongside Mack Wilson Sr. and his 16 starts.

So, while early projections view newcomer Josh Sweat and Collins as the team’s starting options, Browning will at the very least be firmly inserted into the pass-rushing rotation that includes the trio, BJ Ojulari (coming off injury) and Xavier Thomas.

Why did Cardinals pass rusher Baron Browning sign ahead of free agency before seeing what his value could have been on the open market?

“If you got a girlfriend who’s a 10, why play around?”

No lies told. pic.twitter.com/QzZSoIUtYl

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) March 12, 2025

Who else could be viewed as the Cardinals’ bounce-back candidate for 2025?

There’s one name that stands out when it comes to an additional bounce-back candidate for the Cardinals this season, especially given his noticeable transformation this offseason.

After a rookie season filled with “the highest of highs and lowest of lows” that included injury and the passing of his mother, Darius Robinson is champing at the bit to hit the ground running in 2025.

"I just know it's going to be something crazy."

Cardinals DL Darius Robinson is ready for a bounce-back Year 2 and "getting back to that highest point" after working through the highest of highs and lowest of lows as a rookie. pic.twitter.com/9HNC1NOYjS

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) May 28, 2025

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