Raising Zona
FanSided

Cornerback help finally arrives for Arizona Cardinals

By Jim Koch

CINCINNATI, OH - NOVEMBER 26: Josh Malone #80 of the Cincinnati Bengals tries to make a one-handed catch against Jamar Taylor #21 of the Cleveland Browns in the second half of a game at Paul Brown Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals won 30-16. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - NOVEMBER 26: Josh Malone #80 of the Cincinnati Bengals tries to make a one-handed catch against Jamar Taylor #21 of the Cleveland Browns in the second half of a game at Paul Brown Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals won 30-16. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Arizona Cardinals finally brought in a quality cover guy to fill the massive hole across from Pro Bowler Patrick Peterson

Knowledgeable observers of the Arizona Cardinals weren’t buying it. Sure, the club’s front office had added some much-needed cornerbacks to the nest this offseason. None were bona fide starters, however, so Cards’ fans kept waiting for them to acquire someone who was.

That “someone” has arrived. General manager Steve Keim has sent a 2020 sixth-round draft pick to the Cleveland Browns for veteran cover guy Jamar Taylor. It’s a solid move by the two-time NFL Executive of the Year, and one that needed to be made.

At the moment, it appears to be a bargain. Taylor is fresh off of two solid seasons with a team that’s arguably the worst in football. The Browns are basically redoing their roster, and Taylor is just the latest of many who’ve been jettisoned by the “Dawg Pound” this offseason.

The 27-year old is already being penciled in to start across from a seven-time Pro Bowler, Patrick Peterson. Taylor registered 10 passes defensed and 62 tackles last year. The former second-round pick of the Miami Dolphins was even better in 2016, when he tallied three interceptions, 13 passes defensed and 57 tackles.

Taylor’s arrival is fantastic news for the Cardinals. Management has been putting band-aids on the position ever since Antonio Cromartie departed the desert following the 2014 campaign. All the while hoping to eventually find a long-term solution for the dilemma.

Keim had hoped that Justin Bethel was going to be the savior. The now-departed special teams ace had his moments, but was getting burnt way too often. Arizona managed to void the final year of Bethel’s contract, and he’s now with the Atlanta Falcons.

In 2016, Keim acquired Marcus Cooper from the Kansas City Chiefs for a seventh-round pick. The trade worked out well for the Cards for 16 games, but Cooper bolted the following offseason for the Chicago Bears. Tramon Williams handled the number-two cover guy duties in 2017, but then left this past March for the Green Bay Packers.

Next: Arizona Cardinals: Impact of offseason departures

Thankfully for the Cardinals, it appears that Taylor will be around for awhile. The 5’10”, 195 pounder is signed through the 2019 season, insuring that he’ll be with the organization for at least two years. Kudos to Keim for addressing yet another of the franchise’s biggest offseason needs in an impressive way.

Home/Cardinals News