Cardinals Sign Supersized Ex-Bears DT

Andrew Billings joins Arizona's defensive line on a one-year deal.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 1:24am

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The Arizona Cardinals have signed former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Andrew Billings to a one-year contract. Billings, a 6-foot-1, 340-pound veteran, has started 39 games over the past three seasons for the Bears.

Why it matters

The Cardinals are looking to improve their defense after ranking 27th in the NFL in yards allowed per game in 2025. Billings, a fourth-round pick by the Bengals in 2016, provides veteran experience and size to the interior of Arizona's defensive line.

The details

Despite his 14 starts for the Bears last season, Billings struggled, earning a low overall grade of 38.7 from Pro Football Focus, which ranked him 131st out of 134 qualifying players. The Cardinals are hoping Billings can bounce back and help shore up a defense that was vulnerable against both the pass and the run in 2025.

  • Billings was signed by the Cardinals on March 17, 2026.

The players

Andrew Billings

A 6-foot-1, 340-pound defensive tackle who has started 39 games over the past three seasons for the Chicago Bears.

Kyler Murray

The Cardinals' former starting quarterback who was recently released by the team.

Mike LaFleur

The Cardinals' new head coach, who has an offensive background and will be relying on defensive coordinator Nick Rallis to improve the team's defense.

Nick Rallis

The Cardinals' defensive coordinator, who will be tasked with improving the team's defense after it ranked 27th in the NFL in yards allowed per game in 2025.

Roy Lopez

A free agent defensive lineman signed by the Cardinals to a two-year contract.

Jonah Williams

A free agent defensive lineman signed by the Cardinals to a one-year deal.

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What they’re saying

“The #Cardinals have signed former #Bears DT Andrew Billings. Billings has started 39 games over the last three years for Chicago.”

— Ari Meirov (X)

What’s next

The Cardinals will be hoping that Billings can help improve their defense and prove to be a valuable addition to the team's defensive line rotation.

The takeaway

The Cardinals are making moves to address their defensive struggles from 2025, signing veteran defensive tackle Andrew Billings to a one-year deal. While Billings had a down year with the Bears, the Cardinals are hoping he can bounce back and provide some much-needed size and experience to their interior defensive line.