Raising Zona
FanSided

The Arizona Cardinals are making smart roster moves

By Joseph Comeau

Jan 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals president Michael Bidwill (left) and general manager Steve Keim watch from sidelines before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals president Michael Bidwill (left) and general manager Steve Keim watch from sidelines before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight end Jermaine Gresham (84) against the New Orleans Saints at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Saints defeated the Cardinals 48-41. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight end Jermaine Gresham (84) against the New Orleans Saints at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Saints defeated the Cardinals 48-41. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

The Jermaine Gresham deal

At first blush, the signing of tight end Jermaine Gresham to a four-year, $28 million contract is probably the most difficult Cardinals move to defend. An average annual salary of $7 million seems like a lot for Gresham’s production with the Cardinals.

One can point to a number of noteworthy reasons as to why the Cardinals re-signed Gresham. He is a good fit for the offense, and the team seems to like having him around. The Cardinals probably also felt a sense of obligation to take care of Gresham, because he turned down a big, multi-year contract last season, to return to the Cardinals on a one-year deal.

Perhaps the most influential reason for the Cardinals re-signing Gresham, however, is because he was their best option at the position. As previously noted, there are only a few truly exceptional tight ends in the NFL, and there were not many starting caliber tight ends on the free agency market.

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Even if the Cardinals had tried to save some cap space by going after a less expensive option, that player would be coming into a new system – something that is not a concern with Gresham. Some might suggest the Cardinals could have used the draft to find a starter. It’s a deep draft, after all. The problem is, historically, tight ends are not effective starters in their first year.

The Cardinals may have overpaid for Gresham, but they needed him back. With Darren Fells departing for Detroit, Troy Niklas, Ifeanyi Momah, and Hakeem Valles were the only returning tight ends on the roster – none of whom has shown they are capable of holding down the starting position.

In sum, Gresham is not the most important player the Cardinals re-signed.  However he would have been one of the most difficult to replace.

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