Free agency is still about two months away but NFL teams are preparing, making their own lists of players and ranking them by priority. The Arizona Cardinals have their own free agents to perhaps re-sign as well.
According to Pro Football Focus, two of their pending free agents are among the top 50 in the league. However, one big name does not appear on the list.
Who makes the list?
It includes receiver Larry Fitzgerald and tackle D.J. Humphries. It does not include running back Kenyan Drake.
Fitzgerald comes in at No. 48.
The NFL needs Larry Fitzgerald in it, and the Hall of Famer is somehow still playing at a pretty high level, even if he isn’t quite the force he once was. This season, Fitzgerald caught 72.1% of the passes thrown his way and didn’t drop a single pass all year. Fitzgerald has had the best hands in the game since he came into the league, and despite slowing down, he was still able to register a catch of 54 yards this season along with four touchdowns. His days as a true No. 1 receiver are long gone, but in a league that needs deep benches of receiving talent, Larry Fitzgerald can still be a valuable member of a receiving corps and a solid contributor on Sundays.
Humphries comes in at No. 45.
Humphries battled injuries early in his career, only flashing the ability that made him a 2015 first-rounder, but he is coming off his best effort as a pass blocker. He gave up only 30 pressures on 677 attempts in 2019, just two more pressures than he allowed in 2018 on 335 fewer opportunities. It was Humphries’ first season grading below 72.0 in the run game, but he could be the classic “late bloomer” along the offensive line as he heads into his age-26 season.
Fitzgerald won’t actually make it to free agency. He will either re-sign with the Cardinals before it begins or he will announce his retirement. He will not play for another team.
Humphries, though, is another story. He would like to re-sign, but if he doesn’t have a new deal before free agency begins and the Cardinals do not use the franchise tag on him, he will land a big contract elsewhere.
The absence of Drake, who was dynamic down the stretch for the Cardinals after he was acquired in a midseason trade. In eight games, he ended up leading the team in rushing and rushing touchdowns. Both general manager Steve Keim and head coach Kliff Kingsbury believe he could be their top back and express their desire for his return.
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Ep. 255
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Ep. 254
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