One of the Arizona Cardinals’ many unrestricted free agents this offseason is running back D.J. Foster. Will he be back in 2021?
2020 was Foster’s fourth season with the Cardinals and he played in a career-high 10 games, but he didn’t spend most of the year on the active roster. He was on the practice squad most of the year and benefitted from new rules that allowed veteran players on it and allowed for two players each week to be elevated to the active roster.
Late in the season he was signed to the active roster and finished the year there.
He played almost exclusively on special teams, which has been his role for basically his whole career. However, he did get 25 offensive snaps this season, his first on offense since 2017. He had two carries for two yards and one catch for seven yards.
He was a core special teams player.
Looking ahead to 2021, the Cardinals have almost all their top special teams players hitting free agency. Foster is one of those players. He hasn’t ever earned more than a minimum salary and likely won’t make more that than in 2021.
He is from Arizona, having played high school at Saguaro and then collegiately at Arizona State.
He is the sort of player that teams love to have but also can easily replace. With the addition last season of Jonathan Ward, Foster might not be needed. That said, with the potential for so much turnover on the special teams unit, re-signing Foster makes sense.
He can compete for a roster spot again and, if the league maintains the same practice squad rules as last season, he can extend his career.
Foster will not be a lock to make any roster in the NFL. His return would not be a surprise, nor would it be a surprise to see him sign elsewhere.
He won’t be a priority, but the local kid could stick around another season.
Foster’s 2021 return: at least 50/50
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