Arizona Cardinals must find replacement for departed corner
By Jim Koch
This past Wednesday, eight-time Pro Bowler Patrick Peterson traded in his red Arizona Cardinals jersey for Minnesota Vikings purple. The free agent exodus of the well-respected cornerback left the Cards with a glaring hole at that all-important position. At the moment, third-year player Byron Murphy and veteran Robert Alford are the only two cover guys on the club’s roster who have NFL starts on their resume.
With such a shortage of experience at corner, it’s quite obvious that Arizona will need to address the issue as quickly as they can. Next month’s draft could be utilized to help fix the problem, but free agency is a much more immediate option. The following are a few cornerbacks who, as of this writing, are still seeking employment.
At the top of that list is Kyle Fuller, a 29-year old who was released by the Chicago Bears on Thursday. The 14th-overall pick of the 2014 draft is a flat-out stud, who was cut strictly for financial reasons. In 96 career appearances (94 starts), Fuller has been credited with 390 tackles, 19 interceptions and 82 passes defensed.
Another possible target for the Cardinals is Malcolm Butler, a 31-year old who spent the last three campaigns with the Tennessee Titans. The 5’11,190 pounder possesses two Super Bowl rings, which he acquired during his four seasons with the New England Patriots. In 100 professional games (84 starts), Butler has registered 406 tackles, 17 picks and 82 pass breakups.
A.J. Bouye, a 29-year old who received his walking papers from the Denver Broncos last month, is also a talented cover guy. The 6’0,190 pounder was voted to the Pro Bowl back in 2017, after an outstanding year with the Jacksonville Jaguars. In 100 pro contests (69 starts), Bouye has racked up 338 tackles, 14 interceptions and 72 passes defensed.
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Other possibilities for the Cards include Casey Hayward, Richard Sherman, Xavier Rhodes, Bashaud Breeland and Dre Kirkpatrick (who was with the team last fall). Peterson will be missed, but his departure was far from unexpected. Arizona’s front office must now attempt to find a suitable replacement for one of the best cover guys in franchise history.