Arizona Cardinals sign G Evan Mathis
By Erich Becker
A day after making a big trade splash, the Arizona Cardinals return to free agency with a similarly big deal
ESPN is reporting that the Arizona Cardinals and guard Evan Mathis, who spent the last season in Denver, to possibly fill in the hole left by the recently traded Jonathan Cooper. Cooper was traded to the New England Patriots yesterday along with a second round pick for DE Chandler Jones.
Mathis is viewed as a premiere run blocker in the league and has spent time with five different teams including Carolina, who drafted him in the third round of the 2005 draft, as well as Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Miami and the aforementioned Super Bowl Champion Broncos last season. He made the Pro Bowl in 2013 and 2014, First Team All-Pro in 2013.
Mathis started 90 of his 130 games in the NFL, stands 6ft 5in and clocks in around 300 lbs, if you believe official weights listed by teams.
The deal is for one year, financial details were the deal is for $6m, no word yet on guarantees or incentives.
One year in Denver.
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) March 16, 2016
One SB win.
Evan Mathis is now headed to the Cardinals (1yr, $6M -- via @AlbertBreer). pic.twitter.com/VSatrsENyu
Evan Mathis (34) brings veteran leadership to the offensive line, played in 130 games, started 90. He lives in the valley, owns a business.
— Mike Jurecki (@mikejurecki) March 16, 2016
Any way you cut it, Mathis’ leadership will certainly help, as well as starting 12 games for the Broncos during a Super Bowl year that saw the offensive line need to stand up and protect the aging Peyton Manning. This is a good signing for the Cardinals, if only for a year.