Arizona Cardinals: Final 2019 cornerback grade

Let’s just say this group will be different for the Arizona Cardinals in 2020

The Arizona Cardinals endured the first 6 weeks of the 2019 season without their top cornerback in Patrick Peterson.  Then they had to endure 10 weeks with him.

In arguably Peterson’s worst year since joining the Cardinals in 2011, the team really needed him with a lot of youth around him.  Instead, he became the biggest liability.

Peterson had maybe 2 good games.  He killed it against the Cleveland Browns in week 15 and played pretty well against the New York Giants in his week 7 return.  Outside of that was just plain forgettable.

The Cardinals cornerbacks had just 3 interceptions in 2019.  Of those, two of them were by Peterson who missed those first 6 weeks.  The other was by rookie Byron Murphy Jr.

As for Murphy Jr., he played like a rookie at times and had some good moments as well.  He hits hard and seems willing to learn.  He found himself out of position at times though.

He was pressed into being a started in 2019 thanks to the preseason injury to Robert Alford.  Alford is going to be someone the Cardinals are going to have to make a decision on this offseason.

The team parted ways with Tramaine Brock during the season.  He started the season off playing pretty well but went downhill fast.  He ended up playing just 10 games for the Cardinals.

One guy that could end up continuing to improve is Chris Jones.  Jones had 6 passes defensed in his 11 games, just 3 of those games starts.  Jones could be a holdover into 2020.

Which leads to the question of what do the Cardinals do here next season?  Alford, Jones, and Murphy all seem to be in play.  Will the Cardinals finally part with Peterson?

Will the Cardinals look for more corner help in free agency or the draft? The free agency market for corners isn’t too strong, so maybe the draft would be the better option.  Certainly a position to watch this offseason.  Official grade for 2019 though is a solid D.