Offensive free agent targets for the 2021 Arizona Cardinals

Next year’s free agent class contains a plethora of individuals who could help improve the Arizona Cardinals offensive unit

We’re now 10 games into the 2020 NFL campaign, and the Arizona Cardinals are right in the thick of the playoff race. The club’s 28-21 loss to the Seattle Seahawks this past Thursday night may have hurt their chances for an NFC West championship, but a Wild Card berth remains a possibility. That in itself would be quite a feat, considering the fact that the Cards haven’t appeared in the postseason since they posted a 13-3 record back in 2015.

It’s never too early to start looking ahead to next year, however, and the Cardinals have some roster holes that will need to be addressed when the offseason arrives. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury is currently presiding over the number-one ranked scoring attack in pro football, but there’s also room for improvement on that side of the ball. The following are a handful of mid-range free agents who could help the Arizona offense in 2021.

One area of the team that’s been a non-factor for years is the tight end position. Jonnu Smith, a fourth-year pro who’s with the Tennessee Titans at the moment, would be quite an addition. The 25-year old, a third-round selection out of Florida International University back in 2017, would be a significant upgrade over both Dan Arnold and Maxx Williams.

Ethan Pocic, a 25-year old offensive lineman, is currently in his fourth campaign with the Seattle Seahawks. The former second-round choice out of LSU can play both center and guard, and could start at either one of those spots for the Cards. The organization could acquire the versatile Pocic to replace J.R. Sweezy at right guard, or could possibly bring him in to take the center job away from Mason Cole.

If Larry Fitzgerald finally decides to call it quits at the end of this season, the Cardinals will likely attempt to sign a wide receiver to take his place. Curtis Samuel, a 24-year old who performs for the Carolina Panthers, would be a good candidate for that gig. The 5’11, 195 pounder was a second-round pick of the Panthers back in 2017.

Any franchise that’s competing for a Super Bowl championship should have a viable backup quarterback in it’s locker room. While Miami Dolphins veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick is a bit long in the tooth at 38 years of age, the former Harvard University product can still sling the pigskin. The Arizona native would be a much better insurance policy for Kyler Murray than either Chris Streveler or Brett Hundley.

Another area of the Cards that has been completely ineffective this fall is the punt return game. Old friend Andre Roberts is averaging 11.9 yards per runback for the Buffalo Bills, a number that blows away the pathetic 3.7 yards that Christian Kirk has posted for the Redbirds thus far in 2020. The 32-year old Roberts is a former third-round selection of the Cardinals who’s return ability has gotten him voted to two consecutive Pro Bowls (2018-19).