Owen Pappoe

Career StatsF

Year	Team	GP	Tkl	Sacks	INT
Career		49	66	—	—
2025		17	27	0.0	0
2024		16	28	0.0	0
2023		16

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Cardinals locked up Owen Pappoe at exceptional value, securing a B- CVI that represents a legitimate steal for a depth linebacker on a four-year, $4.1M deal. At just $1.0M annually with minimal guaranteed money ($0.2M), Arizona is paying backup wages for a player who's shown flashes of becoming more than just a depth piece — the contract structure heavily favors the team with virtually zero downside risk. Pappoe's youth and athletic profile suggest there's meaningful upside here, as linebackers often take 2-3 seasons to fully develop their instincts and coverage skills at the NFL level. The guaranteed money is so low that the Cardinals can easily move on if he doesn't progress, but if he takes the next step, they'll have a quality starter at a fraction of market rate. This is exactly the type of low-risk, high-reward depth signing that championship teams make to build sustainable rosters while their core players are still on affordable deals.

Performance Analysis

Owen Pappoe's F grade is a tough reality check for a linebacker who showed real promise early in his career with the Titans. After being a productive player in Tennessee, Pappoe's move to Arizona has coincided with a significant drop in production. The Cardinals' defense hasn't gotten the tackling and coverage contributions they expected when they brought him in. Pappoe's F grade suggests he's either dealing with lingering health issues or has simply regressed as a player. His speed and athleticism were supposed to make him a three-down linebacker, but the results haven't matched the physical profile. Arizona needs a lot more from the position going forward.