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Are the new Arizona Cardinals free agents upgrades or setbacks

By Sion Fawkes

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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Sep 27, 2020; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detroit Lions kicker Matt Prater (5) kicks the game winning field goal against the Arizona Cardinals in the last seconds of the 4th quarter at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hardiman-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2020; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detroit Lions kicker Matt Prater (5) kicks the game winning field goal against the Arizona Cardinals in the last seconds of the 4th quarter at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hardiman-USA TODAY Sports /

Matt Prater

Prater has had a storied career, but in 2021, he’s another signing that you need to question. Sure, the Cardinals needed to move on from Zane Gonzalez, so it only made sense to let him walk and sign someone else.

Problem is, Prater struggled with identical issues in 2020. He finished the season 21 for 28 in field goals and 38 of 41 in extra points. Worse yet, Prater went 10 for 17 on field goals of 40-plus yards. And if I remember correctly, Gonzalez struggled in the same department. Not to mention, Prater also played most of his games in a controlled climate.

Gonzalez, on the other hand, finished 10 for 16 on field goals of 40 yards or longer and like Prater, was perfect on kicks from 39 yards away or closer. The Prater signing made zero sense, considering the identical struggles between him and Gonzalez and odds are, Keim will bring in a kicker to compete with the aging veteran.

Upgrade: No: The clear upside with Prater is that he has career credentials. The downside remains that in terms of the here and now, Prater is one of the least accurate kickers in football. Hopefully, he can rebound if the Cardinals commit to him.

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