Raising Zona
FanSided

5 available free agents that can help the Arizona Cardinals win-now

By Avery Duncan

SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 07: Josh Bynes #57 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates after a sack of C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on October 7, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 07: Josh Bynes #57 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates after a sack of C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on October 7, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI GARDENS, FL – OCTOBER 09: Derrick Morgan #91 of the Tennessee Titans looks on during a game against the Miami Dolphins on October 9, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL – OCTOBER 09: Derrick Morgan #91 of the Tennessee Titans looks on during a game against the Miami Dolphins on October 9, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Derrick Morgan – EDGE

Derrick Morgan had his worst season as a pro in 2018. The edge rusher tallied just a half of a sack in 12 starts for the Titans. But, before that, the nine-year veteran was one of the better rotational pass-rushers in the NFL. He’s tallied 44.5 sacks, 54 tackles for loss, and 112 quarterback hits in his career.

After adding Brooks Reed and Terrell Suggs to a pass-rushing unit that already featured Chandler Jones, the Cardinals appear to be set at edge rusher. But, the lack of depth behind the three is profound; they simply don’t have NFL-calibre pass-rushers to back the trio up. This is where Morgan comes to play, as a rotational edge-rusher, particularly on third downs.

Morgan isn’t the star that the Titans expected him to be when they drafted him at No. 16 overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. But he’s provided the team with excellent seasons in the past. In 2016, the edge-rusher tallied 9.5 sacks, over 60 pressures, per Pro Football Focus, 11 tackles for loss, and 22 quarterbacks hits.

Many thought that the Cardinals would draft Nick Bosa at No. 1 overall, but that didn’t happen. Bosa would’ve brought their pass-rushing unit over the top. Although Morgan wouldn’t carry the same impact of the newly drafted 49er, he would help solidify the team’s grouping as one of the more well-rounded veteran units in the NFL.

Considering the league-wide need to get to the quarterback, Morgan shouldn’t be on the market for very long. If the Cardinals identify depth in the front seven as a team need (which they should), the former Titan would be an excellent addition to solve that.

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