The Arizona Cardinals signed some notable free agents in March 2021. With the season in hindsight, lets’ see how they (and two trade acquisitions) fared.
The Arizona Cardinals went the experience route in free agency starting in March 2021. They also made headlines with a blockbuster trade for center Rodney Hudson. Now with the season in the books, let’s see how each notable Arizona free agent and trade acquisition fared in 2021 and whether they should stick around for 2022.
I’ll cover other noteworthy signees like J.J. Watt, plus one notable player acquired during the season, like Zach Ertz. I won’t cover players who didn’t stick to the roster or, in the case of Malcolm Butler, retired before stepping onto the field.
I also won’t cover anyone who didn’t receive adequate playing time. So Colt McCoy will not appear on this list.
And while a first-round playoff exit and cataclysmic meltdown defined the Cardinals’ 2021 season, did the acquisitions (or losses) of those added to the roster help or hinder the Cardinals. Let’s find out, starting with the biggest signee added in 2021.
J.J. Watt – DE
In the regular season, the Cardinals leaped out to a 7-0 start with J.J. Watt in the lineup. Then they faltered to a 4-6 finish when Watt missed six games with a shoulder injury. They had him back for Super Wild Card Weekend, but by that point, the Cardinals were already deep into their monumental collapse that ended with an exclamation point.
Despite posting just one sack, Watt’s numbers were relatively solid in seven regular-season games. He posted 16 combined tackles and five tackles for a loss to go with 10 quarterback hits. Except for his lack of sack production, Watt showed he still had a high motor when healthy.
Should Watt Stay?
Absolutely. If the injury bug didn’t strike him (again) in 2021, he was on pace to finish the year with 39 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, and 24 quarterback hits before his injury. He’s worth keeping around for another season.
2021 Grade: B
While Watt’s sack numbers were underwhelming, he still performed well when healthy.
A.J. Green – WR
I criticized the Cardinals for signing A.J. Green back in March. However, in hindsight, Green had a better year than I thought. Sure, you can blame him for blowing the Green Bay game – although had the Cardinals played better football, they never would have been in that situation – but he had a decent year for a player supposedly on the decline.
Green logged 54 receptions in 16 games on 92 targets, posting a 58.7 percent catch rate. Green also posted his highest yards per reception average (15.7) since his rookie season, showing he’s still a deep threat. And while his skills have diminished, Green can spend the remainder of his career in a niche role.
Should Green Stay?
I’ll keep him around another season. Especially with DeAndre Hopkins coming off of an injury and Rondale Moore posting a so-so rookie year. While the Cardinals should do everything to bring back Christian Kirk and keep him at the WR2 spot, Green makes for a solid insurance policy.
2021 Grade: C+
Green stepped in and played well in a role Larry Fitzgerald left empty. His performance was not eye-popping, but he provides better depth at this stage in his career than most.
Matt Prater – K
I stated back in March that Matt Prater was not an upgrade over his predecessor, Zane Gonzalez. And the aging kicker had a few tough outings. However, it’s hard to fault him for the Week 16 meltdown against the Colts when he was forced to kick without his normal holder.
Take out the stagnant performance against the Colts, and Prater finishes the season 29-for-34, with an 85 percent conversion rate. Not great, but not bad. Still, he finished 30-for-37 and converted 81 percent of his kicks. In today’s game, you want to see more production from your kicker.
Should Prater Stay?
This one’s a gray area. Part of me wants him back in the desert. However, if the Cardinals can find a viable replacement, they should. Prater will be 37 when the 2022 season rolls around and he didn’t light up the league. Keep him around unless the Cardinals sign someone who would be a surefire upgrade.
2021 Grade: C
Prater improved upon a pedestrian 2020 season. However, he’s still not the Mr. Automatic he once was. The Cardinals will make him work to keep the kicking job.
Rodney Hudson – C
Rodney Hudson was fools gold, according to PFF, who ranked him 30th out of 40 centers with a 57.4 grade. Following the trade for Hudson, the Cardinals shipped Mason Cole to the Minnesota Vikings. Cole finished with a PFF grade of 69.7, ranking him 13th out of the 40 centers.
However, Hudson struggled during an injury-plagued 2021 campaign. So that’s one reason he may deserve a mulligan for 2022. Per AZCardinals.com, PFF graded him at 93.6 in the pass blocking department since 2015. In that span, he allowed only three sacks.
Should Hudson Stay?
Yes, but with an asterisk. Keep Hudson around and mark this year up as an outlier, given his past production and durability. However, he’s also at the age where it shouldn’t surprise anyone if the Cardinals cut him during training camp as one of those “surprise” roster moves, especially if they target offensive linemen in free agency and the draft.
2021 Grade: D
Hudson did not look good in 2021. However, injuries took their toll, so he’ll get a chance to redeem himself in July and August.
Zach Ertz – TE
Zach Ertz was one of the Cardinals’ most productive offensive players in 2021, logging 56 catches in 11 games for 574 yards. Counting the games he played with the Philadelphia Eagles, Ertz logged 74 catches and 764 yards, showing he’s still among the league’s better tight ends.
He also graded a solid 65.4 on PFF, ranking him 30th out of 74 qualifying tight ends. Ertz also logged a 69.1 catch percentage, which ranked fifth on the team regarding players with 30 or more catches. While Ertz isn’t the player he was, he proved he is still a serviceable player in the league.
Should Ertz Stay?
The Cardinals should prioritize re-signing Ertz. Even if they sign Maxx Williams, who was having a career year before suffering a season-ending injury, it’s still wise to keep Ertz around. Plus, it would provide some dangerous two tight-end sets going forward.
2021 Grade: B
Ertz is past his prime. But he was also the Cardinals’ most serviceable tight end in years.
James Conner – RB
James Conner was perhaps the most noteworthy free-agent signee in 2021. Having flamed out in Pittsburgh, most expected Conner to be no more than an RB2 for the Cardinals while Chase Edmonds got the nod to be the starting running back.
However, Conner responded with 18 total touchdowns (15 rushing). He also recorded 37 receptions on 39 targets and had 1,127 all-purpose yards. His efforts earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl and there is talk that he will be the team’s RB1 moving forward.
Should Conner Stay?
1,000 percent yes. Conner resurrected his career in the desert. So let’s see what his encore season will look like in 2022.
2021 Grade: A-
While I praised Conner for his efforts, one thing that jumps out is that he did not eclipse the 4.0 yards per carry mark. So I’m going to knock him down a rung for that. Other than his pedestrian YPC, Conner may be the team’s MVP in 2021.