Arizona Cardinals Jaron Brown playing for pay raise

The Arizona Cardinals have stockpiled talented wide receivers over the last few years and may have trouble retaining all of them

The Arizona Cardinals were driving for a field goal late in the first half of this past Sunday’s game. Already leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17-0, a field goal would’ve given them a solid three-touchdown cushion.

Quarterback Carson Palmer’s eyes locked onto wide receiver Jaron Brown, who was streaking down the middle of the field. Brown had gotten behind two defenders and Palmer delivered a perfect ball. The Cards were up 24-0 and the rout was on.

Brown is part of a five-deep wide receivers corps in the desert. He’s also scheduled for unrestricted free agency next offseason. With a plethora of other free agents to worry about, there’s a decent chance the fourth-year vet could flee the nest.

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The Clemson product has been held back by playing on a team that boasts Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd as it’s starters. He combines good size ( 6’2″, 205) with above average speed. He could without a doubt be starting for receiver-needy teams.

Whether he re-signs with the Cardinals could depend on Floyd, who’s also headed for free agency in 2017. There’s no doubt that Floyd will command more money than Brown on the open market. Will the club decide that Brown is an adequate but cheaper option?

While Brown hasn’t gotten a boatload of playing time, he has come up with some clutch grabs during his career. The best-case scenario is that management is able to bring back both Brown AND Floyd. That would certainly be beneficial to Palmer also.

The play that Brown made this past Sunday is most likely just the tip of the iceberg for this season. More often than not players in a contract year play to a high level. Here’s hoping general manager Steve Keim finds a way to keep him right where he got his start.

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