Arizona Cardinals would be smart to retain linebacker
By Jim Koch
Arizona Cardinals’ backup Josh Bynes will become a free agent in 2018 and is showing management he’s worthy of a new deal
For all intents and purposes, the Arizona Cardinals’ 2017 campaign is over. Sunday’s 32-16 loss to the Los Angeles Rams was disappointing, and there were plenty of negatives to derive from the contest. Inside linebacker Josh Bynes wasn’t one of them.
Filling in for injured starter Deone Bucannon, the Cards’ backup had a very productive afternoon. Bynes was credited with eight solo tackles, and was almost impossible to block. The seventh-year player also broke up a pass on a third-down play in the third quarter, forcing a Rams’ punt.
Bynes’ performance against Los Angeles was actually his second impressive outing in a row. During Arizona’s victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars last week, the 28-year old racked up nine tackles. The inside linebacker on the Cardinals’ defense is called upon to make a ton of stops, and Bynes has been more than up to the task.
The 6’1″, 240 pounder, like quite a few other Cards, will be a free agent next March. The last couple of weeks have basically been an audition for Bynes. The veteran has done nothing to diminish his market value during that time.
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Bynes remaining in the desert is anything but a given. If a starting job is what the journeyman desires, then he could be out of luck staying in Arizona. Bucannon and Haason Reddick, the squad’s first-round draft pick this year, would both be in the way of Bynes becoming a first-stringer.
The Auburn product could conceivably return to the Cardinals if he’s not offered starter’s money by another franchise. Based on Bucannon’s recent injury history, Bynes could be the recipient of even more playing time in the future. “Buc” missed three games in 2016, and has already sat out four during the current campaign.
There were reports that Bucannon was close to returning from his ankle injury this past weekend, but wasn’t quite ready. Until he does, Bynes will be able to show the rest of the NFL what he can do. Rest assured that the Cards’ front office is also taking notice.