The Arizona Cardinals suffered a huge blow to their defense on Friday when second-year outside linebacker BJ Ojulari tore the ACL in his left knee in practice. He will not be able to play in 2024.
He was expected to be their best pass rusher off the edge and was one of the team’s standouts in training camp and offseason program.
His injury leaves a big hole.
The Cardinals have a vacancy on their roster they have never filled, so it would appear like the time to make a move.
Here are some options they have outside the organization.
Trade for Matt Judon
Judon, now with the New England Patriots, is currently holding out of training camp, as he seeks a contract extension. Turning 32 years old this month, he enters the final year of his contract, due to make $6.5 million in salary and up to $1 million in per-game roster bonuses.
He had four sacks in only four games last season before he tore his biceps and missed the rest of the season. He had 12.5 and 15.5 sacks in each of the two previous seasons.
A trade would mean also giving him a new contract, but he would immediately give the Cardinals a proven pass rusher.
Sign Yannick Ngakoue
Ngakoue remains unsigned and will not turn 30 years old until after the season. He had only four sacks last season for the Chicago Bears but had 19.5 over the previous two seasons with the Colts and Raiders.
Sign Carl Lawson (before the Cowboys do)
Lawson worked out with Dallas recently, who also lost a pass rusher for the season (Sam Williams tore his ACL). Lawson is 29 years old but did not have a sack in six games with the Jets last season. He had seven sacks in 2022.
Sign Tyus Bowser
Bowser is 29 years old and remains unsigned. He was cut this offseason by the Baltimore Ravens after six seasons with the team. He only had two sacks in nine games and his career-high is seven, set in 2022.
Sign Justin Houston
Houston is now 35 years old and had only half a sack in 2023 in seven games with the Carolina Panther, but he had 9.5 in 2022 with the Ravens.
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