The Arizona Cardinals saw another free agent move on to another team on Saturday
As expected, linebacker Kevin Minter is moving on from the Arizona Cardinals. On Saturday it was reported that he would be signing with the Cincinnati Bengals.
After four seasons with the team that drafted him in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, Minter moves on to the AFC on a one-year deal. The Cardinals already were prepared for the loss.
This past week, the Cardinals signed linebacker Jarvis Jones away from the Pittsburgh Steelers in the anticipation that Minter was going to move on. It would seem the Cardinals were alright with the move.
In four seasons with the Cardinals Minter had just five sacks and did not become a full-time starter until 2015. He had his best season in 2016, which likely made him a more attractive asset in free agency.
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Minter, out of LSU, came to Arizona with very high expectations given the program he was coming from. However he never really reached the potential the Cardinals and fans saw in him when he was drafted.
He played sparingly in his rookie season of 2013 and eventually grew more into the position, playing in all 16 games, starting five in 2014. He had a career-high 94 tackles in 2015 and had 81 in 2016.
The Cardinals though never made a play for Minter in free agency, at least not publicly. The fact they were quick to snatch up another team’s player who has struggled to live up to his potential should speak volumes as to how the team felt towards Minter.
The Bengals were smart to give him a one-year deal. If Minter can grow more in 2017, then a longer-term deal I suspect will come next spring. He has grown a little each year. It will be a matter of how long the Bengals are willing to see that happen.