Arizona Cardinals: Likelihood that free agents return

Safety Tony Jefferson

Arizona Cardinals safety Tony Jefferson is about to get paid – and deservedly so. In 2016, Jefferson was the fifth highest rated safety, according to Pro Football Focus. In addition to his overall grade of 88.6, Jefferson boasted the second highest run defense grade among safeties, with a remarkable 98.0.

Beyond his excellent play in 2016, Jefferson’s youth – he is only 25 years old – makes him a particularly appealing free agent. General managers with cap space – and there are plenty of them – won’t hesitate to open the checkbook for ascending young players.

This is all good news for Jefferson, and bad news for the Cardinals. The reality is that, although the Cardinals would like to have Jefferson back, it is not likely that their offer will be good enough to secure his continued services.

And while it may not be popular among fans, the smart move might be to refrain from engaging in a bidding war for Jefferson. Instead, the prudent decision could be to spend the cap space on positions where good players are more difficult to find.

Likelihood of returning: 10 percent