Another cornerback candidate surfaces for Arizona Cardinals
By Jim Koch
The Arizona Cardinals, and the rest of the National Football League for that matter, are now just hours away from the start of free agency. One of the team’s most glaring needs is at the cornerback position. Candidates are lining up in front of the Cards front office, including an intriguing cover guy who has just become available.
Casey Hayward, a veteran who will be entering his 10th professional campaign, was handed his walking papers by the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday. It was a cost-cutting move for the franchise’s decision-makers, who will save $9.75 million in salary-cap space by releasing the corner. Hayward was entering the final season of a three-year contract extension he signed with the Chargers back in 2018.
Last fall, Hayward totaled 41 tackles, an interception and eight passes defensed in 14 appearances (13 starts) for Los Angeles. Groin and hamstring injuries caused the 5’11, 192 pounder to miss two games in 2020. Hayward was sensational during a week-one victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, registering 12 tackles and two pass breakups for the triumphant Chargers.
The 31-year old was a second-round selection of the Green Bay Packers back in 2012. Hayward spent his collegiate career at Vanderbilt University, and was voted Second-team All-SEC following a solid 2011 campaign with the Commodores.
Hayward made two trips to the Pro Bowl during his first two years with the Chargers. In 2016, the Georgia native racked up 58 tackles, seven interceptions ( including a pick-six) and a whopping 20 passes defensed in 16 contests (14 starts). The following season, Hayward tallied 40 tackles, four picks and 22 pass breakups for the Bolts, earning a second-consecutive trip to Orlando, Florida.
Arizona has major question marks at cornerback as they prepare for the free-agent signing period. Byron Murphy and Robert Alford are the only two players on the roster who have starting experience at the spot. Both Patrick Peterson and Dre Kirkpatrick are searching for new deals, and could very well be playing elsewhere this coming fall.
Steve Keim, the club’s general manager, has done well with one-year, “prove-it” contracts for aging free agents in the past. Perhaps Hayward could come to such an agreement with the cornerback-needy Cardinals in the coming days.