Arizona Cardinals free agents stuck on unemployment line
By Jim Koch
A group of free agents whose contracts with the Arizona Cardinals have expired are having trouble finding a new place to play.
The Arizona Cardinals’ locker room will be speckled with a bevy of new faces this season. The club’s front office went on a spending spree, adding an assortment of talented individuals to their roster. Coincidentally or not, very few of the free agents they handed contracts to were with the Cards last year.
The fact of the matter is, most of the Cardinals who are searching for new deals are having trouble finding work. Perhaps other organizations want to steer clear of players who were a part of the mess that existed in the desert in 2018. Acquiring members from a squad that posted a 3-13 record may not be the best strategy for franchises who are looking to improve.
Linebacker Josh Bynes, who’s coming off of a productive campaign in Arizona, is one of those who are searching for employment. The 29-year old registered 75 tackles, two sacks, five passes defensed and a touchdown in 11 games last season. Bynes, who was released by the Cards roughly four weeks ago, has yet to find another team to play for.
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Another Cardinal who remains unemployed is Tre Boston. The outspoken safety tallied 79 tackles, three interceptions and nine pass breakups in ’18. There was talk that the Cleveland Browns may have interest in Boston, but the 26-year old has not yet been signed to a new contract.
Tight end Jermaine Gresham is another ex-Arizona contributor who has failed to latch on with another franchise. The 30-year old was sent packing by the Cards last month and has yet to schedule a visit with anyone. Gresham didn’t come close to living up to the four-year, $28 million deal he was handed in 2017.
Someone who many thought would be back with the Cardinals is Rodney Gunter. The defensive tackle has been a solid performer for the squad since he was drafted back in 2015. The 27-year old Gunter, who met with the Green Bay Packers this past Wednesday, could still be brought back to the nest at a later date.
Defensive end Benson Mayowa was a pleasant surprise for Arizona after he was signed to a one-year contract last offseason. However, the 27-year old may be best-suited for a 4-3 defense, a scheme that the club will be abandoning in 2019. While he may no longer be a fit with the Cards, Mayowa has also struggled to find a new suitor for his services.
Placekicker Phil Dawson‘s play severely declined after the Cardinals handed him a two-year deal in 2017. The rest of the league apparently took notice and has shied away from the 44-year old this offseason. Dawson’s time in the NFL may finally be coming to an end after 20 campaigns.
Next. Arizona Cardinals could have a future trade partner in the Dallas Cowboys. dark
Some other Cards who have failed to find work include Gerald Hodges (now retired), Joe Barksdale, Derrick Coleman, and John Phillips. It’s still fairly early in the offseason, so there’s still hope for the unemployed. Nevertheless, it certainly appears that Arizona has moved on from most of the names mentioned in this piece.