Cardinals LB Cody Simon’s biggest goal for rookie season

TEMPE — The Arizona Cardinals have a big question mark in the middle of the defense heading into 2025.

With former team captain Kyzir White unsigned and multiple additions to the LBs room, who is going to take the reins of the defense at MIKE backer?

And despite the learning curve and veteran competition in front of him, Cardinals fourth-rounder Cody Simon is hoping to be the solution sooner rather than later.

"My job is to contribute as early as possible. I'm ready to go. … They drafted me here to be able to contribute early.”

Cardinals rookie LB Cody Simon is already locked in. pic.twitter.com/9vPQWH0RlJ

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) May 8, 2025

“They don’t take you if they don’t think you can contribute now. My biggest goal is to contribute as early as possible and help the team the best that can,” Simon told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo on Thursday.

“I’m ready to go and I’ve been talking to (inside linebackers coach Cristian Garcia) already and we’re just ready to go,” the linebacker added during his introductory press conference. “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 and so I need to be ready at all points.”

Simon, who gave off Jordan Hicks vibes at times during his press conference, heads to the Cardinals after five years and 57 games played at Ohio State. His time as a Buckeye was culminated with a National Championship run that saw Simon set career highs in tackles (112), sacks (seven) and passes defensed (seven) in 15 games played.

During his entire stretch in Columbus, Simon not only took strides as a player but also a leader, earning the prestigious Block O Award given out to the program’s best. Only five players have earned the right in program history.

“I’d put leadership in three different things. It’s being seen, heard and felt,” Simon said. “Seeing you do the right thing all the time. You’re the person that they can look to do the right thing. You’re heard, you’re the vocal leader. You can motivate, inspire. Then felt is the emotion, the passion that you can play with that others can look to and they can feel it.”

Can Cody Simon make an immediate impact for Cardinals?

Defensively, Simon has a realistic path at achieving his goal as a rookie.

Which Cardinals later-round draft pick has the best chance at starting in 2025?@koval_lauren and I make our pick!

Full episode: https://t.co/JLNcqun0UR pic.twitter.com/hE9BS761R9

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) May 3, 2025

Akeem Davis-Gaither figures to be his toughest competition for the starting role opposite Mack Wilson Sr. Mykal Walker could also be in the mix after both he and Davis-Gaither inked deals with the franchise in free agency.

There’s also a world where Wilson takes over the green dot and quarterbacks the defense, with Simon or whomever else filling in as the hybrid option the veteran was for the Cardinals last year.

And if Simon can’t find his way into the middle of the defense, special teams is another viable route for the rookie.

However it shakes out, Simon is ready to get after it.

“I’m just ready to be a sponge, ready to learn as much as possible right now. My job is to push everyone else in the room and to be the best player possible,” he told Burns & Gambo.

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