Category: Arizona Cardinals offseason

5 pending free agents to watch in NFC title game between 49ers, Packers

Who could be a target for the Arizona Cardinals?

The NFC Championship Game features the San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers. Between the two teams, there are a number of pending free agents who could be targeted by the Arizona Cardinals in March when free agency officially begins.

Who could be on the Cardinals’ radar?

49ers DL Arik Armstead

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Armstead had a breakout season in 2019. He had nine career sacks in three previous seasons. He had 10 in 2019. The Cardinals need help on the defensive line and could target a big-ticket player. Armstead would be such a player and would immediately upgrade the defensive front and give the Cardinals an interior threat to counter Chandler Jones off the edge.

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3 pending free agents to watch in Chiefs-Titans playoffs game

These players could be targets for the Arizona Cardinals in free agency.

The AFC Championship Game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans is Sunday afternoon. On both teams, there are pending free agents the Arizona Cardinals could have interest in this offseason.

Check them out.

Chiefs DT Chris Jones

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Jones is going to be one of the big-ticket free agents. The Cardinals need to upgrade the defensive line and Jones would be a huge upgrade. He had nine sacks this season and 15.5 in 2018 from the defensive interior.

The Cardinals could have drafted him in 2016 but took Robert Nkemdiche instead.

He is questionable for the game today with a calf injury.

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5 2019 Cardinals rookies whose 2020 roles probably won’t change

While they might develop, the situations ahead of them probably will limit their role next season.

Several of the Arizona Cardinals’ rookies in 2019 should have bigger roles in 2020. Others aren’t likely to. Here are the rookies whose roles likely won’t increase much in their second season.

S Deionte Thompson

Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Thompson split time on the field with fellow rookie Jalen Thompson after D.J. Swearinger was cut. However, his playing time disappeared with the emergence of Jalen. With Budda Baker already a Pro Bowler and with the emergence of Jalen and the possibility of the team adding a veteran at the position, Deionte probably won’t be more than a special teamer in 2020 unless there is an injury or he makes huge strides.

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4 2019 Cardinals rookies who need to fill larger roles in 2020

These players need to be counted on for more in 2020.

The Arizona Cardinals had two of their rookies play prominent roles in 2019. Quarterback Kyler Murray and cornerback Byron Murphy, the team’s two top picks in the draft, started every single game as rookies.

As we look ahead to 2020, a few of the 2019 rookies should see their roles increase.

WR Andy Isabella

 Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

While the team was not disappointed in him, he certainly was disappointing to fans, who were very excited about the prospect of someone with his frame and speed. He still has Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk ahead of him in the slot but he needs to be a much bigger part offense in his second year than he was.

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Larry Fitzgerald ‘didn’t need to be lobbied’ to come back for 2020

“Coming back and playing with this nucleus of guys we have is a lot of fun.”

The Arizona Cardinals organization and its fans are all thrilled with the decision of Larry Fitzgerald to play at least one more year in 2020, his 17th season in the league and with the team. Before the end of the season, head coach Kliff Kingsbury said he would give him his sales pitch and quarterback Kyler Murray said he wanted Fitz to come back.

The future Hall of Famer didn’t need any of that. The decision was easy, he said.

“I didn’t need to be lobbied,” he said on NFL Network. “Coming back and playing with this nucleus of guys we have is a lot of fun.”

He spoke of the worth ethic and the charisma of his teammates.

“It’s fun to be around them,” he said.

At the conclusion of the season, he said that, despite winning only five games, it was one most fun seasons he has had in his career.

“Coach Kliff (Kingsbury) is one of the better guys you can be around,” he added. “His offense is fun and innovative. He’s creative, every single day coming in with something new.”

There is clearly a good vibe around the team right now.

They have a young, talented quarterback in Kyler Murray, who Fitzgerald believes will be the rookie of the year. He likes the coach and the offense and he can still produce. He led the team with 75 catches for 804 yards in 2019.

His early decision to re-sign is evidence that he didn’t need a lot of time to know what his plan was.

The same questions will arise near the end of this next season and we will go through the same waiting process. Until then, we will enjoy another year of Larry.

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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. 255

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Ep. 254

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Kyler Murray expresses desire to play both baseball and football

“I’ve been playing both my whole life. I would love to add that to the resume.”

A year ago at this time, it was not yet known whether or not Kyler Murray would declare for the NFL draft as he was under contract with the Oakland Athletics in Major League Baseball. He eventually chose football and became the first player ever to be a first-round pick in both baseball and football.

Could he be a two-sport star like Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders were in the 1990s?

He was asked about it by AZCentral Sports’ Bob McManaman. Murray believes he could pull it off.

“I think I could,” he said, according to a tweet by McManaman. Athletically, I think yeah, I could do it. I’ve been playing both my whole life. I would love to add that to the resume.”

One might read this as how he would like to do both. However, as much as he would like, as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes, he really can’t.

The Cardinals can’t overtly prohibit him from returning to baseball, but the verbiage in his contract puts him in default if he tries out, participates in an exhibition or anything of the like for baseball.

It would be quite the accomplishment to do these days, but it looks like it will never actually occur.

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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. 255

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Ep. 254

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4 players on Cardinals’ roster who could be ready to replace a free agent

These players potentially could jump into the role that one of the Cardinals’ many free agents had last season.

The Arizona Cardinals have a large group of free agents entering the offseason. For some of them, the Cardinals don’t really have a replacement for them already on the roster. For some, there are players who could potentially slide into the role.

Who are those who could fill the role of potential departed free agents?

OL Mason Cole

Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

All signs point toward A.Q. Shipley returning in 2020. However, if he and the Cardinals can’t come to terms, they do have Cole. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury considers Cole a starting-caliber offensive lineman and gave him offensive snaps at all three interior positions in the season’s final games just to get him on the field.

Cole battled Shipley for the starting center job right up to the end of the preseason. Having drafted Lamont Gaillard, Cole could slide into the starting role and Gaillard could be the versatile interior backup.

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Larry Fitzgerald contract details for 2020

He can earn up to $750,000 more than just his $11 million salary.

The Arizona Cardinals announced the re-signing of receiver Larry Fitzgerald on Wednesday for the 2020 season. The team did not disclose the financial details of the deal but one report said the deal was for roughly what he made last season.

ESPN’s Field Yates has the specifics.

According to Yates, Fitzgerald’s salary will indeed be $11 million, the fifth consecutive year his salary will be that much.

He can make as much as $750,000 more. He has incentives of $250,000 and roster bonuses of up to $500,000. The per-game roster bonus has become a staple in Cardinals contracts for veterans over the last couple of years.

Fitzgerald had 75 catches for 804 yards and four touchdowns in 2019.

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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. 255

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Ep. 254

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Chandler Jones snubbed as defensive player of the year by PFWA

New England’s Stephon Gilmore receives the honor after six picks and two returned for touchdowns, in addition to 20 pass breakups.

Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Chandler Jones has received many honors for his play in 2019. However, he misses out on one, as voted on by the Pro Football Writers of America, the collection of hundreds of writers who cover the NFL across the country.

The PFWA announced its selections for MVP, offensive player of the year and defensive player of the year.

Jones was not the pick. Instead, it was New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore.

Gilmore had a fantastic season for New England, one of the top defensive units in the league. He picked off six passes, returning two for touchdowns, broke up 20 passes, recovered a fumble and had 53 total tackles. He was AFC defensive player of the month once.

Jones, on the other hand, had 19 sacks, which was second in the league, tied for the league lead with eight forced fumbles and seven strip-sacks. He was defensive player of the week twice and defensive player of the month once. He had two four-sack games, something that hadn’t been accomplished in the same season since the 80s. With three consecutive seasons with at least 13 sacks, only Hall of Famer Reggie White had more in a row. He had four consecutive seasons.

It is disappointing for Cardinals fans and surely for Jones as well, but Gilmore did have a fantastic season.

The official league award for Defensive Player of the Year will be announced the day before the Super Bowl.

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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. 255

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Ep. 254

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Larry Fitzgerald expected to make about $11 million again in 2020

He did not plan on returning for less money.

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The Arizona Cardinals announced the return of receiver Larry Fitzgerald for his 17th season, as he signed a one-year contract extension for the 2020 season. As is always the case, the team does not disclose financial terms of their contracts.

However, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, he is not coming back with any sort of real discount. It is basically the same deal he has had for several years.

He will earn $11 million this year with the chance at some incentives.

He made $11 million in salary last year and another $750,000 in incentives.

The important note is at the end of Rapoport’s tweet. Fitzgerald was not returning for less money.

Based on the last several years, $11 million appears to be his price to come back.

It is a little pricey for 75 receptions, but it was a bargain when he caught over 100 passes three straight seasons. And the truth is this — is quibbling over a couple of millions of dollars worth potentially causing Fitzgerald to get hurt and end his career on a sour note?

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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. 255

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Ep. 254

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