Restricted free agents could interest Arizona Cardinals

Dec 24, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight end Jermaine Gresham (84) breaks away from Seattle Seahawks cornerback DeShawn Shead (35) in a game at CenturyLink Field. The Cardinals won 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 24, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight end Jermaine Gresham (84) breaks away from Seattle Seahawks cornerback DeShawn Shead (35) in a game at CenturyLink Field. The Cardinals won 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports /
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There are restricted free agent cornerbacks who could be of help to the Arizona Cardinals If the front office can land them

Another offseason is upon us, and once again the Arizona Cardinals need cornerback help. It has pretty much become an annual problem for the front office. The best scenario would be for the club to land a relatively young corner with starting experience.

Restricted free agency is a seldom-used tool by NFL teams. The downside of making such a move is the compensation involved. Signing a restricted free agent requires giving up a designated draft choice to the player’s former team (if that team elects not to match the deal and keep the player).

However, isn’t it better to give up a draft pick for a player you know can perform in the NFL, rather than use the pick on a college kid you’re hoping can play? It’s kind of like buying a dog that’s already potty-trained, they’re already broken in.

Malcolm Butler is a restricted free agent cornerback who has proven he can hang with the big boys of the NFL. He’s 26-years old, and has started all 32 games over the past two seasons. He has accumulated 130 tackles, six interceptions, and an outstanding 32 pass breakups during that time.

Ross Cockrell is a year younger than Butler at 25, and has the size (6’0″, 191) Arizona covets in their corners. He has started 23 games in the last two years as a Pittsburgh Steeler. He tallied 106 tackles and 25 passes defensed during the 2015-16 campaigns.

Stealing away DeShawn Shead from their division rival, the Seattle Seahawks, would be like killing two birds with one stone. The restricted free agent is coming off of his best year, with 81 tackles and 14 pass breakups. He may receive a lower tender from Seattle since he had ACL surgery in the offseason.

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Marcus Williams of the New York Jets played better in 2015 than he did last season. He went from 27 tackles, six interceptions, and 10 passes defensed in ’15, to 33 tackles, two interceptions and six pass breakups last year. The dip in performance could also lead to a lower tender for Williams.

Whether the Cards could acquire any of the four cornerbacks mentioned in this article is anyone’s guess. Their level of interest in any of them is also a question mark. But as desperate as Arizona should be to solve this ongoing problem, any and all options need to be considered.