The 2026 league arrives next month. It officially started on March 11, and the legal negotiation period began on March 9.
Before that happens, the Arizona Cardinals have a lot of roster decisions to make.
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Ahead of the new league year, we’ll profile each player on the roster, reviewing their performance last season, their contract status and what they face in 2026.
Next up is linebacker Cody Simon.
Cody Simon 2025 Season
Simon is a 2025 draft pick in the fifth round out of Ohio State. After Mike Wilson went down for the season with a rib injury, he was thrust into the starting role as the team’s “Mike” linebacker.
He appeared in 16 games and started the final nine, all of which the Cardinals lost. He’s the defensive quarterback, and the Cardinals have allowed more than 30 points six times in those nine games.
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He played 564 defensive snaps and had 76 total tackles, including two tackles for loss, half a sack, a quarterback hit, two pass breakups and a forced fumble.
He had seven special teams tackles in 172 snaps on special teams.
Cody Simon Contract Status
Simon is entering the second year of his four-year rookie contract. His annual salary will be just over $1 million, but the amount that counts toward the salary cap will be less than $1.3 million.
Cody Simon’s Offseason Outlook
Simon will certainly be part of the Cardinals’ plans in 2026, although he’s expected to play more of a role on special teams than on defense.
With Mike Wilson back, Simon could be the starter alongside him, or he could be a core piece of depth and special teams if they add a starter in free agency.
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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Cody Simon’s Contract Status and 2026 Offseason Outlook
