Arizona Cardinals add depth at outside linebacker position

The acquisition of Matt Longacre provides the Arizona Cardinals with a veteran player who can bolster their pass-rushing depth

That time of the year has arrived for the Arizona Cardinals. The beginning of training camp brings an air of excitement that both the players and their fans can enjoy. It also serves as a reminder that the start of the 2019 campaign is just around the corner.

While most of the Cards roster has already been assembled, pieces to the puzzle are still being added. This past Wednesday, the club signed outside linebacker Matt Longacre to a free agent contract. A one-year “prove-it” deal that the organization has benefited from in recent times.

Longacre will provide pass-rushing depth to an Arizona squad that has impressive talent at the starting spots. Chandler Jones is arguably the best edge rusher in professional football. Terrell Suggs has racked up an outstanding 132.5 sacks during his 16 years in the league.

An undrafted free agent in 2015, Longacre spent his first four pro seasons with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams. The 27-year old played his college ball at Northwest Missouri State, and was the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2014. Longacre was also a first-team All-American in both 2013 and 2014.

In his four campaigns with the Rams, the Omaha, Nebraska native totaled 57 tackles and 6.5 sacks. Longacre tallied 21 quarterback hits and eight tackles for loss during that time as well. The 6’3, 265 pounder’s best year was in 2017, when he racked up 23 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 14 appearances (one start).

Longacre could quite possibly be just the first of a string of summertime acquisitions by the Cardinals front office. General manager Steve Keim has done very well in the past with some of his late-offseason signings. Let’s hope that when all is said and done, Longacre has the success with the Cards that quite a few of his predecessors have enjoyed.