The Arizona Cardinals’ defense has had up-and-down weeks in the 2025 season. The Cardinals have consistently been a middle-of-the-pack defensive group, though.
Arizona ranks No. 17 in the NFL, according to PFSN’s Defense Impact, and has scored a C grade for the majority of the season.
One player fans have hoped to see more of throughout the year is defensive lineman Daruis Robinson. However, Cardinals defensive coordinator Nick Rallis believes Robinson is impacting the game even if it’s not showing up on the stat sheet.
What Does Darius Robinson Mean To the Cardinals’ Defense?
The Cardials drafted Robinson in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Missouri.
The former Tiger played five years at Missouri, collecting 120 total tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, and 13 sacks. The defensive lineman also had a pass defended, forced fumble, and fumble recovery.
In Robinson’s rookie year with the Cardinals, he played in just six games, none of which were starts. The rookie had 10 tackles, one TFL, one quarterback hit, and a sack.
However, many fans hoped for a breakout in 2025, but that hasn’t necessarily come for Robinson.
He’s started six of the seven games he’s played in 2025, but he has just 12 tackles, two TFLs, a quarterback hit, and a sack. But, Rallis says his impact goes beyond the stat sheet.
“I thought he did some really good things in the run game – knocking it back, disruptive – playing fast and playing violent right now,” Rallis said. “He’s a huge piece right now to our defense. When he’s in there, I feel his presence. In terms of the pass game, he’s done a really good job of pushing the pocket, to where even if the ball gets out, quarterbacks are feeling him at their feet.”
When Rallis was asked about fans’ disappointment in Robinson’s production, he didn’t really understand why.
“I don’t know in regards to if that’s statistically or what, but I know he goes out there and helps us win games,” Rallis said. “He’s a huge part of this defense.”
Robinson hasn’t graded better than a C+ this year, according to PFSN’s DT Impact, and he’s ranked No. 56 among all defensive linemen in the NFL.
However, he does have the second-best grade on the team behind veteran Calais Campbell.
The statistical impact hasn’t shown up much for Robinson in his first year and a half in the NFL, but his defensive coordinator can see his impact on the field.
The next step is for that impact to translate into more substantial numbers on the stat sheet for the former first-round pick.