Arizona Cardinals: A final plea for a cornerback

The number-two cornerback position may be the only thing standing in the way of a Super Bowl triumph for the Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals’ defensive coordinator James Bettcher has a problem. A glaring hole remains in his defense as the training camp for the 2017 campaign has gotten underway. It’s an obvious weakness, one that must have opposing offensive coordinators who have Arizona on their schedule licking their chops.

The number-two cornerback spot, opposite perennial Pro Bowler Patrick Peterson, is in need of a significant upgrade. And if general manager Steve Keim doesn’t address it between now and the regular-season opener, the Cards’ Super Bowl aspirations may be in trouble.

Make no mistake about it, being the second corner on the Cardinals is no easy task. It places a huge target on the chest of those who dare to accept the assignment. Teams tend to not throw passes to Peterson’s side of the field, creating a lot of work for the number-two cover guy.

In the last three years, the closest anyone has come to succeeding at the post was Antonio Cromartie. “Cro” more than held his own when he was signed to a one-year deal in 2014. He played so well that he was voted a Pro Bowl alternate that season, and parlayed that into a big contract with the New York Jets in ’15.

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Penciled in as the starter as of now is sixth-year pro, Justin Bethel. The 27-year old is a three-time Pro Bowler on special teams but, in contrast, is not even an average cornerback. Bethel was asked to take a pay cut this offseason, not exactly a ringing endorsement for someone slated to start.

Brandon Williams, the squad’s third-round draft pick last year, is the other candidate for the job. It didn’t take long for Keim to realize last season that he reached in selecting him so high. Williams obviously hasn’t made any strides if he can’t start over a player as limited as Bethel this year.

There aren’t alot of options left for Keim to improve the position. Anyone still available this late in the offseason most likely has some kind of red flag attached to them. Still, Darrelle Revis, Alterraun Verner, Brandon Flowers or Tracy Porter would probably all be better options than what the Cards currently have.

A trade may also be a possibility. Marcus Cooper was acquired just days before the 2016 regular-season opener. An afterthought at the time, the veteran became a major factor for the Cardinals by leading the team in interceptions (4).

Hopefully Keim will think of something. There is still time for him to bolster the position. Before it’s too late.

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