The Arizona Cardinals need to add talent on the defensive line. They will most assuredly try and bring in players in free agency. A potential target who makes some sense for Arizona isn’t looking for a big payday.
Denver Broncos defensive lineman Derek Wolfe is coming off the final year of his four-year, $36.7 million contract. He turns 30 years old this offseason and played under Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph when he was head coach in Denver for two seasons.
Wolfe has been productive and knows the defense. He also is not looking for a big payday. He isn’t going take a cheap deal, though.
“It’s about being fair, that’s what it’s about,” Wolfe said last month, according to Broncos Wire managing editor Jon Heath. “I’m not trying to break the bank anywhere. If I have to go somewhere else, I’m not trying to break the bank there either. It’s all about what’s fair. I’m not trying to be top of the market and I’m not trying to be bottom of the market either.”
He would like to stay but understands the business of the league.
Wolfe had a career-high seven sacks in 12 games in 2019 before an elbow injury landed him on injured reserve in December. He also had 34 tackles and 12 quarterback hits, as well as a forced fumble.
Perhaps the Cardinals can get Wolfe on a deal comparable to the one they gave Corey Peters when he was going to turn 30. He got a three-year, $12 million contract extension. Could the Cardinals get him away from Denver on a three-year, $16 million deal?
Wolfe is turning 30 and he has ended the season on injured reserve two of the last three seasons, but he was as productive as ever in his career last season and would be a definite upgrade to what they had for most of last season.
That combined with his familiarity with the defense the Cardinals run might make him an interesting potential target once free agency begins.
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Ep. 255
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Ep. 254
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