Predicting the future of the Arizona Cardinals free agents
By Jim Koch
The countdown is on for the Arizona Cardinals decision-makers. With just hours to go until the NFL’s free-agent signing period, general manager Steve Keim and his cohorts certainly have their work cut out for them. An extensive list of the team’s players are seeking new contracts, so here’s a few predictions on where some of those Cardinals will be in 2021.
One of the biggest names among Arizona’s group of free agents is cornerback Patrick Peterson. Despite persistent rumors to the contrary, the eight-time Pro Bowl cover guy belongs with the club that drafted him back in 2011. When the smoke clears, Peterson puts his name on a three-year deal that places the 30-year old back into the Cards secondary.
Future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald is taking his good old time this year in revealing whether he wants to continue his playing career. The Cardinals have let it be known that they want the legendary wide receiver back, but the $11 million he has been making is likely out of the question. Fitzgerald does return to the squad for one last campaign, but the salary he receives is much more affordable for the organization.
Kenyan Drake, a veteran who came to the desert in the middle of the 2019 schedule, is one of the top running backs on the market. Unfortunately, another franchise will likely outbid Arizona for his services. Drake gets the multi-year contract he’s been coveting since last offseason, but it won’t come from the salary-cap limited Redbirds.
Haason Reddick, the 13th-overall selection of the 2017 draft, led the Cards with an impressive 12.5 sacks last season. It was painfully obvious that the former Temple University product should’ve been utilized as an edge-rusher from day one. But the return in ’21 of Chandler Jones, coupled with the addition of big-ticket free agent J.J. Watt, will force Reddick to take his talents somewhere else.
De’Vondre Campbell was an outstanding pickup for the Cardinals in 2020. The inside linebacker racked up 99 tackles and two sacks in 16 starts for the squad last fall. First-round draft pick Isaiah Simmons is waiting in the wings, however, meaning Campbell will likely be moving on in the near future.
The list of Cards free agents who could be retained (most likely on one-year deals) includes punter Andy Lee, right tackle Kelvin Beachum, defensive tackle Domata Peko, defensive end Angelo Blackson and tight end Dan Arnold. Among those who could be gone include nose tackle Corey Peters, guard J.R. Sweezy, cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, quarterback Brett Hundley and safety Chris Banjo.
Arizona has decisions to make on a handful of restricted free agents as well. Those who could be tendered include outside linebacker Dennis Gardeck, tight end Darrell Daniels, inside linebacker Ezekiel Turner and outside linebacker Kylie Fitts.