Every season, there are players who exceed their offseason expectations. Who could those players possibly be for the Cardinals in 2022?
Every NFL season, players have breakout seasons that aren’t expected from the fans. The Arizona Cardinals, who have made it a priority to retain most of their free agents from last season, could use a few of those breakout performers.
Jalen Thompson’s emergence as a rookie supplemental draft pick is a perfect example. The free agent acquisition of Kelvin Beachum sliding over to right tackle is another.
Who are some candidates for a surprise breakout player in 2022?
Whether it was injury, lack of playing time or ineffectiveness, these players seek to show more in 2022 than they did in previous years.
The Arizona Cardinals enter 2022 expecting to have a better ending than they did last season. They won 11 games and went to the playoffs for the first time since 2015 but faded down the stretch and were blown out of the first round of the playoffs.
They need to bounce back from the end of their last season.
To do that, they will need some players to bounce back from seasons they probably wish they could have back.
Below are some Cardinals players who will have the chance to bounce back and be better in 2022.
Dennis Gardeck suffered a brutal knee injury late in the 2020 season, which hampered his ability last season. He is now at 100% and ready to return to form.
Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Dennis Gardeck was always one of the team’s best special teams playmakers. His role increased drastically in the 2020 season, however, when Chandler Jones went down with a season-ending biceps tear.
He immediately became a fan favorite, managing to rack up seven sacks in very limited snaps at outside linebacker. He brought energy and some much-needed pass rush help to a team that had just lost their star pass rusher for the season.
Unfortunately, Gardeck was unable to finish his 2020 campaign, as he suffered a torn ACL in a December matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. Late-season knee injuries, particularly one of Gardeck’s severity, are always difficult to return to full strength by the next season.
“I thought I was back to my normal speed,” Gardeck said. “I felt way more confident than I did in weeks previous and months previous until I got out there.”
“Maybe I wasn’t all the way back,” he said.
Gardeck mentioned how early in last offseason, he thought he was going to be able to play at close to full strength. Getting out on the field was a different story, however. He just didn’t feel like his normal self and never quite found his footing during the regular season.
This offseason is different for Gardeck. He’s had ample time now to recover from his injury and we get a chance to start conditioning and drills at 100%, as opposed to last year.
“I definitely felt back to pre-injury Dennis.”
The Cardinals are going to need a much production as possible from the edge rusher position following the loss of Chandler Jones in free agency. They added third-round picks Cameron Thomas and Myjai Sanders, but otherwise have not added any outside help.
The team extended Gardeck for the next three seasons, showing the faith they have in him returning at full speed this year.
With Chandler Jones leaving in free agency, it appears the Cardinals expect increased production from Dennis Gardeck, Zach Allen and Michael Dogbe.
The Arizona Cardinals will have to adjust on defense in 2022 with the departure of franchise all-time sack leader Chandler Jones. They have not yet replaced him in the lineup.
In the most recent episode of Cardinals Flight Plan, general manager Steve Keim spoke of Jones’ departure. He spoke of how teams love to have Pro Bowl players, “but at the same time, there are guys that are really good fits that do things day in and day out here that sort of lead us to success.”
He suggests that there will be players to step in and give the Cardinals what they need to replace Jones.
The video cut to three players while Keim was saying that, suggesting that are players they have at least some hopes will be key contributors in 2022.
We take a look at all the numbers to Gardeck’s three-year deal and what it means for the salary cap.
The Arizona Cardinals brought back outside linebacker and special teams ace Dennis Gardeck. After entering the league as an undrafted rookie in 2018 and making a name on special teams, getting selected as a Pro Bowl alternate in 2019, he was moved from inside linebacker to outside linebacker in 2020. He was super productive that year. Playing 93 defensive snaps, he had seven sacks before tearing his ACL.
He returned in 2021 on a restricted free agent tender. He played in 14 games and did not have a sack.
Now, he returns on a three-year deal worth $12 million. Let’s go over the financial details and salary cap implications of the contract.
Dennis Gardeck contract details
Gardeck receives a $2 million signing bonus.
In 2022, he will earn a salary of $1.25 million and $20,000 per game that he is active as a roster bonus. All of his salary is fully guaranteed.
In 2023, his salary increases to $3.27 million. $500,000 of that salary is fully guaranteed. He can earn up to $34,000 in per-game active roster bonuses as well.
In 2024, his salary drops to $2.46 million and can again make up to $340,000 in per-game active roster bonuses.
Salary cap implications
For cap purposes, Gardeck’s signing bonus is spread out over three seasons.
So for this coming season, depending on how many games he is active, his cap hit (signing bonus proration, 2022 salary and per-game roster bonuses) will be as much as $2.26 million.
In 2023, his cap hit increases to as much as $4.28 million.
In 2024, because of his decrease in salary, his cap hit will drop to as much as $3.47 million.
The way it is structured with his salary guarantees, he will be on the roster for two seasons and then the Cardinals have an out for his contract in 2024. They would save $2.8 million in cap space by cutting him then and only carry less than $670,000 in dead money.
The Cardinals brought back Gardeck on a three-year, $12 million deal. Tell us what you think of him coming back and his contract.
One of the moves the Arizona Cardinals made so far this offseason is to re-sign linebacker and special teams ace Dennis Gardeck. He got a three-year deal for $12 million.
It might seem like a lot for a special teams player, but he also has some pass-rushing upside. After all, he did have seven sacks in 2020 in only 94 defensive snaps before tearing his ACL.
He did not have a sack in 2021 but was coming back from the injury.
He is a fan favorite and you won’t find a player who works harder.
What do you think of the signing? Vote in the poll and give your thoughts in the comment section below.
The special teams ace who had seven sacks in 2020 before tearing his ACL gets a multi-year deal to return to the Cardinals.
The Arizona Cardinals have been busy on the first day of NFL free agency. However, all their initial moves have been to re-sign their own free agents.
The latest is a fan favorite. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, linebacker and special teams standout Dennis Gardeck has come to an agreement to return to the Cardinals on a three-year, $12 million contract.
Gardeck has been with the team since 2018 when he made the squad as an undrafted rookie. He has been a special teams standout since entering the league and even added some pass rushing.
In 2020, he had seven sacks in only 94 defensive snaps before tearing his ACL.
He returned in 2021 and did not have any sacks, but with his multi-year deal, the Cardinals anticipate him being more than just a special teamer.
He had 14 tackles and four quarterback hits on defense and led the team with 13 special teams tackles in 2021.
He will return as a rotational pass rusher and special teams ace.
Gardeck was designated to return from IR this week and could possibly be activated for the game against the Rams.
On the NFL transaction report Thursday, a roster move by the Arizona Cardinals appeared, one that was not announced. They released cornerback Luq Barcoo.
Barcoo thus far this season had not been active in three games. The team signed Antonio Hamilton from the practice squad to the active roster.
However, his release actually suggests a different roster move.
Linebacker Dennis Gardeck was designated for return from injured reserve this week. The Cardinals would need to open a roster spot to activate him this week.
Gardeck tore his ACL in December and then suffered a hand injury in practice in Week 1. His potential return could add a little oomph to the pass rush. He had seven sacks last season in only 93 defensive snaps.
The Cardinals might announce roster moves Friday or might wait until Saturday when they make decisions about what players on the practice squad to elevate to the active roster, but one to watch for is the potential return of Gardeck, who will impact play on special teams and also give some help on defense.
The Cardinals make a few moves affecting the 53-man roster, placing Charles Washington on IR, signing Antonio Hamilton and designating Dennis Gardeck to return from IR.
The Arizona Cardinals made some roster moves Wednesday affecting the 53-man roster. Safety and special teams ace Charles Washington, who suffered a hamstring injury in the Cardinals’ 31-19 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, was placed on injured reserve. He will miss a minimum of three games. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury indicated Monday when he spoke to the media that Washington would be unable to play this week against the Los Angeles Rams.
To replace him on the roster, they signed cornerback Antonio Hamilton from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, a move that was reported Tuesday.
Both Hamilton and Washington have been the team’s gunners on the punt team. Hamilton had been elevated from the practice squad to the active roster each of the first three weeks of the season, once as a COVID replacement and twice as a standard elevation.
Hamilton will obviously continue to be a gunner on punts, but it is uncertain who will replace Washington. Receiver Antoine Wesley handled those duties after Washington got hurt in the game on Sunday.
The Cardinals also designated linebacker Dennis Gardeck for return. He is on injured reserve and missed the first three games of the season. He now can return to practice and the team has 21 days to activate him and have him take a place on the active roster.
Gardeck will have to miss at least the first three games of the season after suffering a hand injury.
The comeback for Arizona Cardinals linebacker Dennis Gardeck will have to wait a few weeks. After coming back from a torn ACL suffered last December and participating fully in practice on Wednesday, he is placed on injured reserve after suffering a hand injury. He will be out at least three weeks.
The team announced the move to place him on IR and added two players to the roster.
To replace Gardeck, linebacker Kylie Fitts was signed from the practice squad.
With receiver Antoine Wesley landing on the COVID reserve Friday, the Cardinals elevated cornerback Antonio Hamilton from the practice squad to the roster as a COVID replacement. He will likely be active on Sunday to play special teams.
With the elevation of Hamilton, it likely signals that rookie cornerback Tay Gowan will be inactive tomorrow.
