Cardinals Sign Bradyn Swinson, Release Mark Perry Before Week 7

The Arizona Cardinals signed outside linebacker Bradyn Swinson to the practice squad Tuesday and released safety Mark Perry from the practice squad in the corresponding move. The transaction gives Arizona a developmental pass-rush option before its Week 7 home game against Denver, but it does not put Swinson on the active 53-man roster or guarantee a game-day role.

What Arizona added in Bradyn Swinson

Swinson, 24, entered the NFL as New England's fifth-round pick at No. 146 overall in the 2025 draft. The former Oregon transfer broke out during his final LSU season, leading the Tigers with 13 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and 12 quarterback hurries across 13 games. LSU also lists him as a second-team All-SEC selection.

The Patriots described Swinson as a long, rangy edge defender with experience both standing up and playing with his hand in the dirt. That versatility is the useful part of the signing. Arizona can evaluate him as an outside linebacker, situational rusher and special-teams option without immediately changing the active defensive rotation.

What the move means for the Cardinals

Arizona is coming off an 18-16 road win over the Rams in which the defense and special teams carried the result. Adding Swinson is a depth bet behind the established edge group, not evidence that Josh Sweat, Zaven Collins or another active defender has lost a role.

The timing still matters. Practice-squad players can be elevated for game day, and Swinson's college pressure production gives the coaching staff a specific trait to develop. The realistic Week 7 question is whether he earns an elevation or remains a scout-team addition while learning the defense.

For Perry, the release ends his short practice-squad stay after Arizona added him earlier in October. Because the transaction is confined to the practice squad, it does not directly remove a safety from the active game-day depth chart.

Fantasy football and IDP impact

• Standard redraft: No actionable change. Swinson is not a fantasy add, and the move does not alter Arizona's offensive skill-position projections.

• Team defense: The Cardinals D/ST outlook against Denver should still be based on the active pass rush, secondary health and final injury report. One practice-squad signing should not move rankings by itself.

• Deep dynasty IDP: Swinson is a watch-list player only. His 2024 LSU production is interesting, but fantasy relevance would require an active-roster promotion, defensive snaps and a stable role.

• Mark Perry: No immediate IDP value follows from his release. Monitor whether another club adds him to a practice squad.

Three checkpoints before Broncos at Cardinals

• Watch Arizona's Saturday transaction wire for a Swinson game-day elevation.

• Check the final Week 7 injury report for any edge or special-teams absence that could create a role.

• If Swinson is active, track special-teams snaps before projecting a defensive package.

For the broader matchup, read Football Nation's Broncos at Cardinals Week 7 guide, which covers the current schedule, matchup context and injury checkpoints.

Sources and verification

Arizona's official transaction log confirms the October 20 signing and release. New England's official 2025 draft announcement confirms Swinson's draft slot. LSU's official player bio supplies his 2024 production, while Arizona's Week 7 schedule confirms the October 25 home game against Denver. Sources checked October 20, 2026 at 10:55 p.m. Central.