5 best free-agent signings in Arizona Cardinals history
By Sion Fawkes
Duane Starks – CB (2002)
Perhaps the most controversial player on this list, you may see Duane Starks as a free agent bust since he never quite lived up to his billing with the Cardinals. He never started a full season and missed one of his three seasons with the team because of an injury.
Despite playing in just 25 of a possible 48 games for the Cardinals and starting 18 of them, Starks was a hot commodity when on the field, recording five interceptions, a pick-six, and 20 pass deflections. He also finished with 55 and 58 combined tackles during his time in Arizona, the third and second-best finishes of his career.
No, Starks did not live up to the billing, and many have labeled him a bust. But when he saw the field, he was arguably the best player on the defense.
Therefore, it’s hard to call Starks a bust considering the impact he made when healthy. And we can only wonder how much more impact he could have made had he played three full seasons between 2002 and 2004.