Arizona Cardinals: Safety room undergoing change

The Arizona Cardinals secondary will have a different look to it this upcoming season thanks to unrestricted free agency

Being a safety with the Arizona Cardinals is a good way to make some good coin in the NFL. Defensive coordinator James Bettcher’s schemes call on the position to make a bunch of plays. Two of those safeties cashed in the other day in a big way.

Tony Jefferson and D.J.Swearinger will be taking their talents elsewhere in 2017. They have parlayed their success in the desert into a couple of pretty sizable free agent contracts. Salary cap restraints precluded the Cards’ front office from having the pair stay put.

Jefferson went from an undrafted free agent in 2013 to one of the league’s highest-paid safeties. He inked a four-year, $36 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens, a number Arizona didn’t even attempt to match. But will the defense even miss him?

Jefferson tallied a solid 96 tackles last season, but his coverage skills are nothing to write home about. It will be interesting to see how much the Ravens will get out of their investment.

Swearinger didn’t get half of the publicity that Jefferson did, but he may be the better player. The Washington Redskins signed the 25-year old to a three-year contract that will pay him $6 million in the first year alone.

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Besides being one of the most ferocious hitters in the NFL, Swearinger can also defend the pass. He had three interceptions and eight passes defensed, to go along with 66 tackles and two sacks in 2016. He thanked Arizona on his way out the door for giving him a chance to revive his career in the Valley of the Sun.

32-year old Antoine Bethea was added to help soften the blow of the losses. He has amassed an incredible 1,046 tackles during his 11 campaigns in the league. He had more tackles (110) than both Jefferson and Swearinger in ’16.

Bethea has been added to the safety group that already includes Tyrann Mathieu and Tyvon Branch. Mathieu is coming off of another injury-plagued season, as is Branch. Branch has agreed to cut his 2017 salary in half, dropping it from $4 million to $2 million.

Second-year cornerback Harlan Miller saw time at safety late last year due to the injuries at the position. It’s not clear what exactly his role will be going forward.

Management may still add another safety or two to the mix. It could be in free agency or possibly even the draft. Either way, free agency has left the Cardinals’ safety position in flux.

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