The Arizona Cardinals might be in trouble with their defensive backfield.
The safety position of the Arizona Cardinals has been a defensive strength. But now, free agency is about to wipe out part of this group’s strength. Budda Baker now has five Pro Bowls, including the one he was named to this year. His sidekick, Jalen Thompson, is on the free agent list, not to mention CB Darren Hall.
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Under contract with Arizona is eight cornerbacks. The safeties listed on the current roster are Joey Blount, Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Kitan Crawford, and Baker. Does that seem like a strong safety room to you?
GM Monti Ossenfort will have his work carved out for him in free agency which begins March 9. He could still re-sign Thompson, which would solve the room. But if Thompson is signed elsewhere, needless to say, there is a mighty big hole in the Cardinals defensive backfield.
Dadrion Taylor-Demerson has played in 29 games, but most of his snaps are on special teams. Blount has been in 38 NFL games with zero starts but has 648 special teams snaps in his three years in Tempe. Crawford was a rookie last season, but played in 15 games with 80% special teams snaps and 14% on defense.
Not much there as far as a working safety for Baker. Is the strategy going forward for Ossenfort to play backups? Or should he sign a seasoned veteran?
S Bryan Cook
Kansas City Chiefs
PFF ranking: 83.5
NFL draft: 2022 Round 2 – pick #62 (Chiefs)
Accolades: First Team All-ACC (2021), two-time Super Bowl Champion (2022, 2023)
40 time: 4.55
2025 season: 17 starts, 85 tackles, 0 QB hits, 0 sacks, 1 interception, 1 pressure, 1 hurry, 0 knockdowns, 1 tackle for loss, 0 forced fumbles, 0 fumble recoveries, 6 batted passes, 4 missed tackles, 858 defensive snaps (83%), 65 special teams snaps (15%)
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First off, Cook is very durable. He is also a sure tackler and plays on the kickoff team so he does offer some versatility on special teams. Plus, he is still a young man at age 26.
He is physical and has been involved in two Super Bowl wins, so he brings that winning culture. An excellent run defender who has zero issues coming down to stop the ballcarrier. He shines in receiver route recognition and plays aggressively. Great motor.
Cook has played significant snaps and would fill in nicely. For 2025, he was ranked the #4 safety on PFF out of 91. Cook is the model for low-key under-the-radar coverage skills without splash plays. He would become an upgrade from Thompson.
Now, would the Cardinals spend that much money on a safety? The bigger question might be, can they not afford to pair Baker with Cook and watch the fireworks every game?
The Chiefs are not happy losing Cook. They just made some hard decisions, and he was one of the most difficult to let test the free agent market. His PFF number was quite high in 2025.
Cook has a high football IQ and is a natural leader. Great instincts and is an outstanding tackler. Has smooth body control with the fluid ability to plant and redirect in any direction. He does play fast and makes up his mind if it’s a run play, then chooses his gaps and goes after the ballcarrier.
The knock on him is that at times, he is hesitant in coverage. And he is not a ball hawk or a playmaker. But he is tough, scrappy, and physical.
He was paid $1.42 million last year.