Explosive tight end would serve Arizona Cardinals needs

Tight end Jared Cook would be an excellent addition to an Arizona Cardinals offense that promises to attack through the air

For quite a few years now, the tight end has been an afterthought in the Arizona Cardinals offense. For the most part, opposing defensive coordinators have not had to worry about that aspect of the Cards’ scoring attack. However, there’s a player who the team could target in free agency who could potentially change all of that.

The Oakland Raiders Jared Cook is coming off of one of the finest campaigns of his NFL career. The 31-year old’s timing couldn’t have been any better. Out of all of the tight ends who’ll be searching for a new deal in 2019, Cook is regarded as the most attractive.

Arizona could desperately use an upgrade at the position. Veteran Jermaine Gresham has not come close to living up to the four-year, $28 million contract he signed back in 2017. Ricky Seals-Jones, an undrafted free agent in ’17, has been mediocre at best.

Gresham has two years remaining on his deal, but the Cardinals could get out of it this offseason. Doing so would leave $5,750,000 in dead money against the 2019 salary cap. In 13 appearances (11 starts) in 2018, Gresham hauled in just nine balls for 94 yards with zero scores.

Cook was a third-round draft pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2009. The 6’5, 254 pounder played with that franchise for four years (2009-12). Cook also spent time with the St. Louis Rams (2013-15) and Green Bay Packers (2016), before landing with Oakland in ’17.

The University of South Carolina product has played in 149 games as a pro, with 77 starts. Cook’s career totals include 425 receptions, 5.464 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns.

Cook would certainly be a fine addition to the Cards’ roster. As luck would have it, the front office happens to have a boatload of money to throw around in the coming months. Perhaps general manager Steve Keim will use a portion of it to bring the talented tight end to the desert.