The 2024 NFL season is just around the corner, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t still a chance for teams to improve their rosters heading into the first week of the year. The team over at Bleacher Report recently released their run down of team needs heading into the season, including one way teams can address their need immediately, as well as an option for next year’s free agency period.
For the Arizona Cardinals, Bleacher Report NFL analyst Matt Holder has the team addressing the same position, pass rusher, both in the immediate and in the future. For right now, Holder suggests the team reach out to Yannick Ngakoue to improve their pass rush. The Cardinals have put together a lot of nice pieces on offense around quarterback Kyler Murray, now it’s time for them to focus on the defense.
The pass rush in particular in Arizona needs a lot of help, and the former Pro-Bowl pass rusher could come in and immediately inject life into the team’s pass rush. Ngakoue isn’t an every-down defensive end, but in obvious pass rush situations he could add a lot of value to the Cardinals. Ngakoue is still just 29 years old, and is just two seasons removed from a double-digit sack season. In fact, before last season, Ngakoue had put up at least eight sacks in every season of his career.
Signing Ngakoue ahead of the 2024 season would provide the Cardinals with an immediate boost to their pass rush – perhaps after a week or two on the practice squad to get used to the playbook – but Ngakoue likely isn’t a long-term answer for the Cardinals at the position. For that answer, Holder has the Cardinals looking to the New Orleans Saints and former number 2 overall pick Chase Young.
Young was the second-overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft as a member of the Washington Commanders. Things didn’t work out for Young in Washington, but he’s always been a valuable pass rusher in the league, when healthy. That caveat was a driving force in him leaving the Commanders, but it’s a gamble that could be worth taking for the Cardinals.
Young was able to play in 16 games last season, his first season over 10 games played since his Rookie of the Year campaign in 2020. Young has put up 7.5 sacks in each season he’s played more than 10 games. If Young can do that again this season for the Saints, he could be a coveted piece on the free agent market in 2025. One the Cardinals should shell out for to improve their pass rush in the long term.