Every NFL team is currently on break as they get ready for training camps to open later this month. They all wrapped up their offseason programs and, as always, players impressed and surprised, even if some coaches won’t say who specifically.
ESPN compiled a list of the players who were the biggest surprises of their offseason program.
For the Arizona Cardinals, believe it or not, it was not receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. with his noticeably stronger physique.
Reporter Josh Weinfuss wrote that it was a rookie — fourth-round linebacker Cody Simon, their fourth-round pick out of Ohio State.
The 2025 fourth-round pick has made a quick impression on coach Jonathan Gannon in a short amount of time. He’s taken on the responsibility of wearing the green dot, which has added to the steep learning curve that comes with a player’s first year in the NFL, but Gannon has praised Simon’s ability to learn quickly from his mistakes.
“He’s definitely flashed here,” Gannon said. “We got him playing a couple different spots, so that’s good. He is playing on fourth down right now, so he is learning all that. He’s eager to learn. He doesn’t make mistakes twice and he’s got juice. He’s physical, just like all those guys. Long way to go. But I like where he is at.”
We don’t know how much he has practiced with the first team in the offseason, if at all, but we will see in training camp whether he can crack the defensive rotation. With Mack Wilson and Akeem Davis-Gaither the favorites to start at inside linebacker, Simon has a shot after he was the Buckeyes’ leader and defensive quarterback for their national champion team.
He, along with second-round cornerback Will Johnson, have the best chances at earning a starting job as rookies.
We will see soon what the buzz is about in training camp and the preseason.
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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals’ biggest surprise of offseason program revealed
