News Cards Team Notes

[Arizona Cardinals]

Cardinals 2026 NFL draft target: S Caleb Downs

With the Cardinals out of playoff contention, our focus shifts to the offseason. So over the next few months, we are going to be taking a look at a handful of prospects leading up to the 2026 NFL draft.

With Arizona having needs at various positions, we will do our best to evaluate the players that we feel fit the team precisely.

Today, I take a look at Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.

Vitals​

Height: 6-0

Weight: 205

College Bio Page

Stats​

Elevator pitch​

A defensive coordinator’s dream, Downs has the instincts, coverage versatility, physicality and communication skills to be a high-end starter with All-Pro upside at the next level, though he’ll need to limit the overaggression when in pursuit at times.

Strengths​

Good eyes and trusts his keys when reading the quarterback and watching route concepts play out in front of him…Processes well and can transition quickly to find and make a play on the football at the catch point…Displays good foot quickness and athleticism to carry receivers and tight ends to all areas of the field…Constantly visibly communicating with his teammates…Shows a lot of aggression and physicality when coming downhill…Good wrap-up tackler in open space…Versatile to play the deep parts of the field, in the slot, or in the box, and looks comfortable in each role…Allowed zero touchdowns on 336 coverage snaps in 2025…Special teams upside as a punt returner.

Weaknesses​

Aggressive in support, as he puts his foot in the ground and explodes downhill, which leaves him prone to overpursuit at times…Okay take-on skills, but plenty of room for improvement in this area…Limited experience as a true single-high deep safety.

Awards​

• Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (2025)
• Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year (2024, 2025)
• Unanimous All-American (2024)
• CFP National Champion (2024)
• SEC Freshman of the Year (2023)
• Tatum-Woodson Award (Big Ten DB of the Year) (2024, 2025)
• Nagurski-Woodson Award (Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year) (2025)
• Thorpe Award, Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik Award Finalist (2024, 2025)

Red flags​

N/A

Fit likelihood​

Mid-High: While not a glaring need, like the offensive line, Jalen Thompson is set to hit the free agency market, and Budda Baker is not getting any younger. Downs would be an impact starter and a cornerstone defender for the Cardinals, with Pro Bowl potential right out the gate.

Grade​

Top-10

Highlights​

#OhioState S Caleb Downs vs. Purdue

Watch him trust his eyes, plant, and drive on the dig route over the middle to cause an INT. pic.twitter.com/lWEbV86sOW

— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) November 10, 2025

#OhioState S Caleb Downs (6-0, 205)

The ultimate equalizer. Can matchup in man and has excellent zone instincts. Plays balanced and violent on arrival. Consistent open field tackler. pic.twitter.com/MG6V9Ka8nJ

— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) May 20, 2025

Caleb Downs, the number 1 overall player in the draft if the league wants a free Hall of Famer, wrong-arming a pulling Guard in the box and making the tackle. pic.twitter.com/p5M3e0JZXN

— Max Toscano (@maxtoscano1) December 7, 2025

Caleb Downs closing speed is freakish. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/VW1o1oeUyK

— WBG84 (@WBG84) December 6, 2025

Ohio State’s Caleb Downs is one of my favorite college football players in a really, really long time.

Gonna be a phenomenal pro in large part due to his sensational football instincts. Case in point: pic.twitter.com/CGrrSDCw1E https://t.co/ScvGT1qbM7

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) November 23, 2025

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/n...cardinals-2026-nfl-draft-target-s-caleb-downs

 

[Arizona Cardinals]

Cardinals-Rams reactions: Was there anything positive from 45-17 loss?

Happy Saturday one and all.

The Arizona Cardinals take on the Houston Texans on Sunday, but before that we need to take a look back at the debacle of the Arizona Cardinals loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Was there anything to take away from the game that was a positive? What is happening on the offense, the defense and can the Cardinals get better with this coaching regime?

All of that and more.

Enjoy the show with the embedded player above or by subscribing to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or your favorite podcast platform, so you never miss a show. Make sure as well to give it a five-star rating!

We spoke about the following:

• (1:00) Whether there was anything redeeming or positive from the game in any phase
• (13:30) What is going on with the offense
• (31:03) What is going on with the defense
• (42:23) What we think about the coaches

View Link

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/a...s-was-there-anything-positive-from-45-17-loss

 

[Arizona Cardinals]

Arizona Cardinals once again get dominated in loss to Houston Texans

The Arizona Cardinals have Trey McBride.

Everyone else doesn’t seem to be playing at that level, although you can show some excitement about Walter Nolen, it would just be nice to see him healthy week in and week out.

However, the Arizona Cardinals are just a bad football team with one elite player in McBride and a lot of questions.

We cannot question the effort and joy that McBride plays with, and he’s turned into a reason to put up with this product every week.

Outside of that, there’s really not much to like about this team right now.

Is it that they’ve taken on the stoic, emotionless personality of their head coach and quarterback?

It just seems like they lack joy when they’re on the field at this point.

Almost like, we are getting paid to be out here, but this is our job and we are going to act like it.

I really don’t know how else to put it.

This team doesn’t bring us any joy in watching them, and then they don’t even make games competitive.

That is not a great combination.

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/a...again-get-dominated-in-loss-to-houston-texans

 

[Arizona Cardinals]

NFC playoffs dominated by NFC West Division clubs

Here it is at the tail end of the 2025 NFL season, and the postseason tournament is shaping up. Teams are still in the hunt, but others fell out of contention this past weekend, such as the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys. Difficult to remember the last time the Chiefs were eliminated with three games remaining on the schedule.

RELATED: CARDINALS FANS ARE OUT ON THE TEAM

Several teams still have plenty to play for, such as the #1 seed, and a division crown. Such is the case in the NFC West Division. The Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks sit on top of this division, arguably the toughest in the league, with identical 11-3-0 records. The Rams hold the edge currently because they defeated the Seahawks 21-19 in Week 11 at home. The two clubs will commence their rebound game this upcoming weekend, on Thursday Night Football broadcast on Prime Video.

Seven teams from the NFC make the playoffs. The Rams currently have the #1 seed followed by the surprising Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Then, beginning with the Wild Card seeds, Seattle is ranked #5 followed by the San Francisco 49ers at #6, and the Green Bay Packers round out the seedings coming in at #7.

That makes three NFC West Division clubs situated into the postseason. The Seahawks are a very good team and will take all of their focus on defeating the Rams this weekend. If they do, they will take over the #1 seed in the NFC plus have the inside track on winning the division.

The Niners (10-4-0) have been a roller coaster so far this season. They have beaten both the Rams 26-23 and Seahawks 17-13 early on the schedule, but were pummeled by Los Angeles in the rubber game 42-26. All four of their losses have been to very good ballclubs.

Any of these three clubs could win the division, and capture the division crown.

This weekend’s games proved that this division is on fire as three of four teams won their games:

Rams 41, Detroit Lions 34

Seahawks 18, Indianapolis Colts 16

49ers 37, Tennessee Titans 24

Houston Texans 40, Cardinals 20

But so far, it appears that the trio of the Rams, Seahawks, and Niners will all make the playoffs. What other division in the NFL can boast that? Anyone?

The Arizona Cardinals are the only odd man out with a 3-11-0 record.

Speaking of the 49ers, they have the best division record, sitting at 4-1-0 compared to the Rams (3-1-0) and Seahawks (2-2-0). In the NFL tiebreaker system within the division to determine who will wear the crown, the first determinant is head-to-head. Since teams play each other twice, these contests are important. The second tiebreaker is best divisional record, followed by best record in common games.

So, the “best divisional record” can make or break a season. One club can defeat another divisional foe in both games, then lose the division title just by not winning more games against the other teams.

As far as team stats, here is where all four NFC West Division teams currently sit in the league:

OFFENSE​

Passing

• #2 Rams
• #4 Cardinals
• #6 49ers
• #8 Seahawks

Rushing

• #8 Rams
• #22 Seahawks
• #25 49ers
• #26 Cardinals

DEFENSE​

Passing

• #12 Seahawks
• #19 49ers
• #21 Rams
• #22 Cardinals

Rushing

• #3 Seahawks
• #9 Rams
• #12 49ers
• #22 Cardinals

It is quite possible that with the current seeding in the NFC, the NFC Championship Game could be comprised of both NFC West opponents, especially if either the Rams or Seahawks were to cement the #1 seed.

Since the NFL went to divisions with four teams contained within each division, home many times has all four teams made the playoffs? Zero.

Okay, so how about three teams making the postseason in the same year? Nine. The Cardinals were involved in the last time that occurred back in 2021.

• 2006 NFC East: Eagles (10–6), Cowboys (9–7), Giants (8–8)
• 2007 NFC East: Cowboys (13–3), Giants (10–6), Washington (9–7)
• 2007 AFC South: Colts (13–3), Jaguars (11–5), Titans (10–6)
• 2011 AFC North: Ravens (12–4), Steelers (12–4), Bengals (9–7)
• 2013 AFC West: Broncos (13–3), Chiefs (11–5), Chargers (9–7)
• 2014 AFC North: Steelers (11–5), Bengals (10-5-1), Ravens (10–6)
• 2017 NFC South: Saints (11–5), Panthers (11–5), Falcons (10–6)
• 2020 AFC North: Steelers (12–4), Ravens (11–5), Browns (11–5)
• 2021 NFC West: Rams (12–5), Cardinals (11–6), 49ers (10–7)

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/a...playoffs-dominated-by-nfc-west-division-clubs

 

[Arizona Cardinals]

Arizona Cardinals defensive line coach heading back to college football after season

The movement on the Arizona Cardinals coaching staff has begun, and it starts with one of their new hires, as Winston DeLattiboudere has decided to go back to the collegiate ranks as he will go be a defensive line coach with the Michigan State Spartans.

NEWS: #MichiganState is set to hire Arizona Cardinals DL coach Winston DeLattiboudere, sources tell us & @mzenitz.

The 27-year-old rising star had other P4 schools vying to poach him from the NFL but chose Joe Rossi – who he’s played & coached for.

READ: https://t.co/oOEMS76X0s pic.twitter.com/MuMAhfXrin

— Justin Thind (@JustinThind) December 15, 2025

The Arizona Cardinals defensive line has been underwhelming this year, but is that on DeLattiboudere?

They replaced Derrick LeBlanc after his two years of underwhelming play from the defensive line, but they were undermanned in his time as the defensive line coach.

They spent a ton of money on the defensive front this offseason, as well as their second first round draft pick, to have one of the worst producing defensive fronts in the NFL.

Again, that begs the question if that is on the coach or the scheme or the execution from the players.

The fact that DeLattiboudere is still so highly thought of and had so many potential suitors does seem like it’s not something that people are putting on him.

Good luck to Coach DeLattiboudere.

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/a...rdinals-winston-delattiboudere-michigan-state