Arizona Cardinals: Look out for Josh Mauro in 2017
The Arizona Cardinals have a lot of key defensive players hitting free agency, but Josh Mauro isn’t going anywhere
One of them underrated defensive player on the Arizona Cardinals is Josh Mauro. The undrafted free agent out of Stanford has produced consistently in games throughout his tenure in Arizona. He is a player that deserves more recognition, as his game has thrived in Arizona, and has been continuously improving and showing up in big moments.
Mauro started his career as an un-drafted free agent in 2014. He was first picked up by the Steelers before being released, and was then signed by Arizona. It was an acquisition that turned out well for the Cardinals. In his rookie season, Mauro only played in 5 games, but recorded 6 tackles.
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Fast forward to the present and Mauro is a key piece for the Cardinals defensive unit. In an off-season that is filled with multiple defensive players hitting free agency, Mauro coming back, off a recently signed 2 year deal, shows that he makes a difference. He earned himself a 2 year deal back in January, after showing improvement in 2016, recording a career high 32 tackles.
The Cardinals defensive line could be taking hits, notably Calais Campbell and Frostee Rucker most likely finding new homes. Mauro could find himself having an extended role in 2017, playing more snaps than his normal role of only helping to stop the run. In the opportunities he has been given, he capitalized, with pressure on the opposing quarterbacks, and making it difficult for running backs to find a hole.
The decision to re-sign Mauro to a 2 year deal could turn out to be a bigger win than people think. Mauro wasn’t an every down player on defense, and didn’t get the coverage he deserved, but keeping him was a huge step in keeping a defense intact that was 2nd in the NFL in total yards allowed. When the 2017 season starts, keep a look out for number 97.