Current Arizona Cardinals who need to be retained in 2021
By Jim Koch
There are several Arizona Cardinals headed for free agency who should be offered new deals when the 2021 offseason rolls around
The 2021 offseason is shaping up to be an interesting one for the Arizona Cardinals. General manager Steve Keim is going to have his hands full, thanks to a list of Cardinals free agents that is quite extensive. Certain members of the roster who have expiring contracts will not be back next season, but there are others who the front office would be smart to retain.
Back in March, the Cards signed running back Kenyan Drake to a one-year deal that’s worth a little over $8 million. It’s been sort of an audition year for the ball-carrier, who arrived in October of 2019 after a trade with the Miami Dolphins. Drake has proven to be a natural fit for Arizona’s “Air Raid” offense, and it would behoove Keim to offer the 26-year old a multi-year contract when the offseason rolls around.
Another potential free agent who the Cardinals should give considerable consideration to bringing back next year is from the defensive side of the ball. Markus Golden, an outside linebacker who’s returned for a second stint with the franchise, is a high-motor player who can wreak havoc on opposing offenses. The Cards second-round draft pick in 2015 was inked to a one-year, $3.75 million deal by the New York Giants back in August, only to end up back in the desert two months later.
During training camp in August, Arizona brought in veteran Dre Kirkpatrick to replace injured cornerback Robert Alford. The longtime member of the Cincinnati Bengals has been an outstanding addition, and the organization may attempt to keep him around. Kirkpatrick, who signed a one-year contract that’s worth just over $1 million, will be in line for a significant raise.
One more prospective Cardinals free agent worth mentioning is De’Vondre Campbell, the linebacker who agreed to a one-year, $6 million contract back in March. The Cards have rookie Isaiah Simmons waiting in the wings, so the temptation to move on from Campbell in ’21 will be discussed. However, the former Atlanta Falcons starter has been magnificent for Big Red this season, and replacing his stellar production will be far from an easy task.