Raising Zona
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Arizona Cardinals: Last Wave of Free Agency could be Huge

By Isaiah Addair

Oct 5, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Alterraun Verner (21) breaks up a pass intended for New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marques Colston (12) in the first quarter of their game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 5, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Alterraun Verner (21) breaks up a pass intended for New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marques Colston (12) in the first quarter of their game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 24, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints free safety Jairus Byrd (31) celebrates his interception in the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 24, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints free safety Jairus Byrd (31) celebrates his interception in the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /

Jairus Byrd, FS

I debated with myself over whether I should include Jairus Byrd or Lardarius Webb. I chose Byrd for one reason: age. Byrd is almost exactly one year younger than Webb at 30 years old.

Even aside from the age difference, Byrd found himself in on exactly 9 more tackles and one more interception than Webb, taking Byrd’s tackle total to 82 and INT total to 2 for the 2016 season. From a career perspective, Byrd has almost double the INTs as Webb as well as 11 more forced fumbles.

At the very least Byrd could provide more leadership for a Cardinals’ defense that just lost Campbell, Minter, Jefferson, and Swearinger. Although Dansby and Bethea will fill in some of that leadership void along with Mathieu and Peterson, it never hurts to have more leaders or experience.

The odds of the Cardinals signing both Verner and Byrd are low considering the talent pool of defensive backs in the 2017 NFL Draft. However, both players could potentially make large impacts despite having down 2016 seasons.

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