2025 Arizona Cardinals training camp roster preview: OLB Elliott Brown

As the Arizona Cardinals gear up for the 2025 NFL season, anticipation is building for training camp, a crucial period where veterans solidify their roles and young talent vies for roster spots. Our comprehensive series delves into every player, dissecting their potential impact. Today, our focus shifts to outside linebacker Elliott Brown, a dynamic edge rusher whose trajectory could significantly influence the Cardinals' defensive fortunes in the upcoming season.

Brown, a former third-round pick from the 2023 draft class, arrived in Arizona with a reputation as a high-motor, athletic pass rusher. His rookie year showed flashes of brilliance, particularly in his ability to bend the edge and disrupt opposing quarterbacks. While his 2024 campaign saw an increase in snaps and responsibility, it was also a year of growth and adjustment. He demonstrated improved consistency against the run and refined his hand usage, culminating in a respectable five-sack season. However, there were moments where his impact waned, particularly in late-game situations, leaving room for further development as a complete three-down linebacker.

Heading into 2025, Brown is poised to be a pivotal piece in defensive coordinator Nick Rallis's scheme. His primary role will undoubtedly be generating pressure off the edge, a critical component for any successful NFL defense. Brown's explosive first step and relentless pursuit remain his greatest assets. He possesses the raw athleticism to beat tackles with speed and the developing power to convert that into bull rushes. The challenge for Brown in 2025 will be to elevate his game from a promising rotational player to an undisputed starter who can consistently impact every snap. This means improving his pass-rushing repertoire beyond speed rushes, enhancing his coverage drops, and maintaining discipline in setting the edge against the run. His ability to turn pressures into sacks, and to be a more disruptive force on early downs, will be under the microscope.