Three free agents the Arizona Cardinals must stay away from

Player #3: Desmond Trufant

The Lions have parted ways with the 30-year-old Trufant. And chances are, he will still command a high salary. Like Patrick Peterson, Trufant has enjoyed a storied career. But he has played in just 15 games over the past 2 seasons.

That should raise the red flags in the desert. Especially after the Cardinals have dealt with Robert Alford‘s absence because of injury since he signed in 2019. The Cardinals can’t afford another swing and miss as they did with Alford.

Statistically speaking, Trufant can still play at times. Over the last 2 seasons, he has recorded 11 pass deflections, 5 interceptions, and 38 total tackles. Remember, he has only played in 15 games. However, he has allowed a passer rating of at least 100 since 2019, and he allowed a startling 111.3 rating over his 4 games in 2020. So perhaps his age is showing.

As with Smith-Schuster and Rudolph, the Cardinals have a few cheaper and better options than Trufant. Mike Hilton is perhaps one of the better and most underrated free agents at corner who could provide a huge boost to the Cardinals. He’s small, but he recorded 3 sacks, 3 interceptions, 51 total tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, and allowed just a 60.2 passer rating when targeted.

Ronald Darby is another solid option over Trufant. Highly underrated, Darby proved his durability by playing in 1,001 snaps in 2020. He also recorded 16 pass deflections, and allowed just one touchdown on 98 targets. He also allowed just a 54.1 percent completion percentage and a meager 81.0 passer rating.