Two players who joined Arizona since free agency began in the NFL last week expressed their eagerness to line up with linebacker Mack Wilson on the Cardinals defense.

For one, it would be line up again with Wilson.

Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson and Wilson were teammates at Alabama in 2016.

“I feel like I’m back in college with Mack like my senior year,” Tomlinson said. “He can help me transition in with the defense, just moving out here and stuff like that. And I know he’s super excited to get some extra O-linemen off of him so he can make some more plays.”

After 125 NFL regular-season starts in eight seasons, including the past two with the Cleveland Browns, Tomlinson joined Arizona for a two-year, $29 million contract.

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With middle linebacker Kyzir White entering free agency after making 137 tackles last season for the Cardinals, Arizona signed Akeem Davis-Gaither to a two-year, $10 million contract after he transitioned from special-teamer to the Cincinnati Bengals’ middle linebacker last season.

“Me and Mack talked a little bit,” Davis-Gaither said. “I mean, we played against each other when he was with Cleveland. I think we played against each other when he was with the Patriots, so I know a little bit about him. I mean, he’s definitely a head-thumper.”

Wilson joined the Arizona Cardinals as a free agent last offseason for a three-year, $12.75 million contract and had his best NFL season since his rookie campaign.

A two-time All-State selection at Carver High School in Montgomery, Wilson entered the NFL as a fifth-round selection in the 2019 draft.

As a rookie, Wilson entered the Cleveland Browns’ starting lineup when veteran Christian Kirksey got hurt in the second game. Wilson went on to finish second on the Browns with 82 tackles and play 943 defensive snaps that season.

Those remain the best numbers of Wilson’s career. He had his second-best in 2024, when he recorded 75 tackles during 763 defensive snaps as the weakside linebacker for the Cardinals.

In the four seasons in between, Wilson played 1,107 defensive snaps. Cleveland traded Wilson to the New England Patriots after three seasons. In two seasons with the Patriots, Wilson was on the field for 596 special-teams plays.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.