Are the new Arizona Cardinals free agents upgrades or setbacks

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 03: J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans participates in warmups prior to a game against the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium on January 03, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 03: J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans participates in warmups prior to a game against the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium on January 03, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
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The Arizona Cardinals signed more than their fair share of aging stars in 2021.

But, is the new crop of Arizona Cardinals an upgrade over the old crowd, or are the new signees long past their prime? The clear upside is that experience can take you a long way. Yet as we’ve seen far too often in the NFL, experience can also take you so far, and none of the following players figure to remain in the desert long-term.

Another clear upside is that the names that Steve Keim has brought in will bring in a lot of interest. He started off with a bang when he signed J.J. Watt, but it didn’t stop him from bringing in several former Pro Bowlers.

Today, we will discuss new faces in the desert projected to start immediately for the Cardinals. Therefore, today’s post won’t talk about new role players like Colt McCoy, Shawn Williams, or even Brian Winters. Instead, we will look at J.J. Watt, Malcolm Butler, A.J. Green, Matt Prater, and Rodney Hudson, and whether they will contribute more to the Cardinals than their predecessors.

Are the Cardinals better off with the new crop? Let’s see what each new player offers.

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