Category: Arizona Cardinals offseason

Cardinals believe DL Jordan Phillips ‘has not hit his ceiling yet’

As good as he was in 2019 with 9.5 sacks, the Cardinals believe he can be a top-10 defensive lineman in the NFL.

The Arizona Cardinals went out and spent big on defensive lineman Jordan Phillips, giving him a three-year, $30 million deal after he had a career season in 2019 for the Buffalo Bills.

In 2019, he had 31 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss and 16 quarterback hits. It was a career high in every category.

The 9.5 sacks were the most by any player weighing at least 340 pounds — ever.

As good as he was last season, the Cardinals believe he can be even better.

“Jordan’s looking forward to getting better,” defensive coordinator Vance Joseph told reporters in a video conference this week. “I think Jordan has not hit his ceiling test. He’s looking to prove everyone wrong that he can be a top-10, top-15 D-lineman.”

Before last season, he was rarely used in any other situation than in run downs. In 2019, he had his first opportunity to play in third-down packages, and it was obviously a huge success.

The Cardinals will count on him to give the defensive interior a pass-rushing threat they haven’t had in years.

Joseph described Phillips as a “dancing bear” because of his stature and movement skills.

“Hopefully, his best years are in front of him.”

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 266

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Ep.265

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Cardinals didn’t think they would be able to sign LB De’Vondre Campbell

He was their No. 1 free agent target, according to defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.

Entering the offseason, it felt like a foregone conclusion that the Arizona Cardinals would go and sign a starting inside linebacker to pair with Jordan Hicks. Haason Reddick didn’t work ou at the position and Joe Walker, who started most of the season, is a player who can be upgraded.

In free agency, players like Cory Littleton, Blake Martinez and Joe Schobert were brought up, but they were not the top target for the Cardinals.

The Cardinals actually landed their No. 1 player, De’Vondre Campbell, who played the last four seasons for the Atlanta Falcons.

“Campbell was our top guy in free agency that we thought we couldn’t get because his money was going to be so bug,” defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said in a video conference with the media this week, “but he came back to us and took a one-year deal just to prove himself.”

He took a one-year deal worth $6 million and worth as much as $8.5 million.

He had 129 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions last season and the Cardinals believe he is an answer to covering tight ends. They were impressed by what they saw when they faced Campbell and the Falcons in 2019.

Hopefully he can produce similar numbers in 2020. The Cardinals’ top choice was a surprise to many, but he might only be here one season. With the selection of Isaiah Simmons in the first round of the draft, Campbell might be setting himself up for a big payday with another team in 2021.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 266

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Ep.265

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Cardinals have intriguing 5-LB defensive package for 2020

It will include Jordan Phillips, Chandler Jones, Jordan Hicks, De’Vondre Campbell, Isaiah Simmons and Haason Reddick.

The Arizona Cardinals upgraded their linebacking corps both in free agency and in the draft. They signed Devon Kennard and De’Vondre Campbell. They drafted Isaiah Simmons in the first round.

They also added defensive lineman Jordan Phillips, who had 9.5 sacks a season ago.

With these new additions, defensive coordinator Vance Joseph already has a package in mind where he uses almost all his linebackers.

The Cardinals used a similar package last year on obvious passing downs. They would use one defensive lineman and five linebackers.

Only this time, Joseph has added versatility. Speaking to the media in a video conference this week, he spoke of having Phillips on the field as the one defensive lineman, combining him with Chandler Jones, Jordan Hicks, Haason Reddick, Simmons and Campbell.

“We’ve got a bunch of linebackers who can rush and cover now,” he said.

The one player that seems to be left out is Kennard. However, he will be a starter. He will play more than just in base packages, but if the Cardinals intend on keeping Reddick this year, it may be the one way they can use him to get anything out of the former first-round pick.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 266

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Ep.265

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WATCH: Larry Fitzgerald talks about his mother, DeAndre Hopkins, giving back

Check out this interview he has with the Arizona Republic’s Kent Somers.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver was doing Larry Fitzgerald things in the community, delivering food to healthcare workers and hospitals in the Pheonix area.

While it wasn’t his idea to do so, his work was publicized and he spoked with Arizona Republic columnist Kent Somers. Above is Somers’ interview with Fitzgerald, who spoke about a variety of topics, including his mother, the acquisition of DeAndre Hopkins, staying at home with his kids and helping with this food delivery.

Enjoy!

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 266

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Ep.265

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Eno Benjamin set to follow Chase Edmonds’ early NFL career path

He expects to have the same role that Edmonds had in his first and part of his second year in the NFL.

The Arizona Cardinals drafted running back Eno Benjamin believing he will be the third running back they need for their offensive rotation behind Kenyan Drake and Chase Edmonds.

As he looks ahead to his rookie season, he has Edmonds’ career path to watch to know his own career might go to start off.

“I think I will be used as the type of guy that Chase was used the previous years, just kind of as a rotational guy — just a guy who is going to be called and gets whatever that needs to be done, done,” he said in a video conference with reporters on Wednesday. “That’s as far as I know about that. I’m just going in head down to earn my right to be able to get on that field.”

He, like Edmonds, was a workhorse back in college selected on Day 3 of the draft. Edmonds won over the coaching staff as a rookie and then moved his way up the depth chart in Year 2, winning over the current coaching staff.

Edmonds played a lot on special teams, worked hard in practice and earned the respect of his teammates. When given the opportunity to start, he rushed for 126 yards and three touchdowns in one game when David Johnson was injured and Drake was not yet on the team.

It will be a change going from the No. 1 option on offense like he was with the Sun Devils to being the third-string running back, but it is something he is ready to face and it is something he is used to doing.

“It’s just doing whatever it takes to win and to succeed,” he said. “When I was in high school, I was never the first guy. I had to work my way up. When I got to college, I was not the first guy. I had to work my way up.

“It’s just that same mentality. You start off at the bottom and you work your way to the top and it’s a cycle that never ends. You have to keep working.”

He already has a relationship with Edmonds. They worked out together in Benjamin’s predraft process.

It will be exciting to see him cut his NFL teeth on special teams and potentially getting a few snaps here and there on offense once the season arrives.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 266

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Ep.265

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New Cardinals OT Josh Jones wants to be ‘one of the greatest,’ will prepare to start

The new Cardinals rookie is willing to do whatever the team asks him but will prepare like a starter.

The Arizona Cardinals were thrilled to land tackle Josh Jones in the third round of the NFL draft last week. He was ranked in the top 30 of their draft board, general manager Steve Keim said after the pick was made.

Jones noticed and plans on proving the rest of the league wrong.

“I think I’m one of the best players in this draft,” he said on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM on Thursday. “I’m definitely going to use it as motivation to make sure that 31 teams missed out on a good player.”

He has a passion for football and wants to play well. “I love this game and want to be one of the greatest,” he said.

After he was drafted, he said he was planning on coming in and being able to play immediately. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury suggested it might be good for him to learn behind right tackles Marcus Gilbert and Justin Murray.

Jones wants to start and will prepare for it but he won’t consider the season a failure if he doesn’t start.

“First, I just want to come in and earn the trust of the team,” he said about his goals. “Second, I just want to be able to go out there and show I can perform at a high level right away. Whatever that may be, if they see me going in behind D.J. (Humphries) and working and learning that side, or going in and starting at right (tackle). It’s whatever the team needs at the time but I feel I’m well enough to perform early.”

He understands the adjustment to the NFL will be tough. But he is ready to compete.

“I’ll sit back and learn as much as I can as quick as I can,” he said. “If they need me to sit down a year and learn the system a little more, it’s whatever the team needs. But right now, I ‘m preparing to play early. I’m going to go out there and work like a starter.”

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 266

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Ep.265

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Cardinals release 2 players to make room for rookies

They cut Lyndon Johnson and Keishawn Bierria, both of whom joined the team in December.

The Arizona Cardinals announced the release of two players from their offseason roster on Thursday. Linebacker Keishawn Bierria and defensive lineman  Lyndon Johnson were the players.

The Cardinals made the moves to make room for their rookie class.

Before the draft, they had 66 players on the roster. After drafting six players and agreeing to terms with 21 rookie free agents, they need to trim the roster to 90 players.

They still need to reduce the roster by one player, but not until all the rookie free agents’ contracts are signed and made official.

Both Bierria and Johnson spent only a short time with the team. Bierria was signed to the 53-man roster in December and appeared in one game for the team on special teams. Johnson was signed to the practice squad in December and signed to a futures deal for the coming season.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 266

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Ep.265

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Cardinals appear to have recouped cap space from Darius Philon’s dead money

They now have just under $9 million in cap space.

The Arizona Cardinals do not have a lot of available cap space right now. they do, though, appear to have more space than they had not long ago. They appear to have less dead money than before, too.

According to Over The Cap, the Cardinals now have more than $8.9 million in cap space, after having about $6.9 million not long ago in our most recent update. The NFLPA site also has the Cardinals having $8.9 million in cap space.

The difference is $2 million and it appears to be because the dead money they were carrying from the contract of defensive lineman Darius Philon is no longer counted.

Philon was signed to a two-year contract in 2019 and was released after he was arrested on assault charges at the start of training camp.

Under such circumstances, teams can attempt to recoup the money paid as a signing bonus. His release gave the Cardinals $2 million in dead money last year and $2 million this year.

OTC no longer has his contract as dead money.

This doesn’t mean that the Cardinals really have any more room to make moves.

With an estimated $6.2 million needed for the rookie pool, the Cardinals only have about $2.7 million in functional cap space.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 266

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Ep.265

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Cardinals crack top 10 in post-draft power rankings

They could be a dangerous team in 2020.

The Arizona Cardinals improved their team in free agency. Based on early grades for their work in the NFL draft, they improved the team with their draft class.

Based on new power rankings from Touchdown Wire’s Mark Schofield, they could be a surprise team to make a big jump in 2020.

He has them now in the top 10 of the league, No. 10 overall in the NFL.

Such an incredible flex.

Kliff Kingsbury certainly looked relaxed in his James Bond-style living space, termed that by the brilliant Nora Princiotti of the Boston Globe. But he had reason to be. The Arizona Cardinals became one of the most athletic and versatile defenses in the league when they added Isaiah Simmons to their roster. Listed as a linebacker for NFL purposes, the Clemson defender can play in a variety of roles and probably projects best as a safety. Then the Cardinals pounced and grabbed tackle Josh Jones in the third round, despite projections that had him coming off the board in the first.

Day Three of the draft was almost as productive. Utah’s Leki Fotu could be a player that will thrive in the NFL, as he was used primarily as a run stopper in college but he can get after the passer when given the chance. He’ll have more chances in the NFL, especially with players like Chandler Jones and potentially even Simmons coming off the outside. Eno Benjamin was a tremendous pick for them in the seventh round.

Oh, and remember when they added DeAndre Hopkins this offseason? Pepperidge Farms remembers.

Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar believes 2020 will be the Year of Kyler Murray, much like 2018 was all about Patrick Mahomes and 2019 was all about Lamar Jackson.

The Cardinals have given him offensive weapons. The defensive personnel has been seriously upgraded.

The five-win 2019 Cardinals had three games where they gave the defense a lead late in the fourth quarter or overtime, only to have them give up the lead. That team could have potentially been 8-8.

The playoffs should be a realistic expectation, assuming everything goes as they should.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep.265

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Ep. 264

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Cardinals GM Steve Keim compares 4th-round pick Leki Fotu to Vita Vea

“I think this guy’s got a little more to him and I think there is a little more upside to develop.”

The Arizona Cardinals were able to select Utah defensive lineman Leki Fotu in the fourth round of the NFL draft last week. At 6-foot-5 and 330 pounds, he has the traditional build of a two-down run-stuffing nose tackle.

General manager Steve Keim believes he could be even more than that.

“I think there’s a little more versatility there,” he said on SiriusXM NFL Radio with hosts Jim Miller and Pat Kirwan. “I thought I saw a little Vita Vea in him when I was looking at him.”

Vea was a first-round pick out of Washington in 2018, going to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is a nose tackle but has had some pass-rushing productivity. In two seasons, he has had 5.5 sacks and 16 QB hits.

Keim believes Fotu is more than just a run stopper.

“I think that the one thing that takes this guy out of the conventional thinking of your traditional nose is he’s got the quickness to get on the edges,” he said. “He’s got some range to laterally close and chase the ball, so I think this guy’s got a little more to him and I think there is a little more upside to develop.”

Fotu himself said before the draft he believes he has more skill than just plugging gaps and engaging blocker. He believes he will be the most disruptive defensive lineman of the draft.

He will likely be used in the same role he had at Utah, playing gap football and keeping linebackers clean so they can make plays, at least initially.

And if that all he ends up in the NFL, it is worth a fourth-round pick. But if he can be more, he might end up being one of the big steals in the draft.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep.265

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Ep. 264

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