Arizona Cardinals who shouldn’t return in 2019
By Avery Duncan
Tre Boston, S
Although Boston may be one of the highest ranked free agents still available, the Arizona Cardinals should continue to stay away from the 26-year-old safety.
After bringing back D.J. Swearinger late in the 2018 season, moving Budda Baker to free safety, and converting from a nickel defense to a 3-4, the Cardinals don’t have a need for Boston; despite the safety impressing box score scouts with his 79 total tackles, nine pass deflections, three interceptions, and 74.1 Pro Football Focus grade, good for 24th in the NFL among safeties.
Despite holding a stacked ’18 box score, Boston was rather frustrating to watch in Cardinal Red on Sundays. Through just 14 games played the safety racked up nine penalties for 124 yards, per Pro Football Reference. Five of those penalties were 15-yard unnecessary roughness flags, while one was for an illegal helmet to helmet hit.
To make matters worse, Boston struggled to defend out of the slot, so mark a potential return as a third-down money-backer out. Per PFF, he allowed a 131.0 passer rating and 2.19 yards per cover snap in the slot, both far below average metrics. However, Boston should latch onto a deep safety-needy team as he still possesses the ability to cover ground in a jiffy and make plays from time to time.