Breaking down the most underrated players of the Arizona Cardinals
By Sion Fawkes
Devon Kennard, LB
Okay, Kennard has drastically underperformed since he signed with the Arizona Cardinals in 2020, playing in 28 games but starting just seven of those contests. Even worse, he logged 14 combined sacks between 2018 and 2019 before accumulating just three in the desert.
As a member of the Cardinals, he has recorded just 43 tackles. However, 12 of those tackles went for a loss. I have Kennard on this list over Dennis Gardeck, who also received consideration because I expect Kennard to get the nod to play in more defensive snaps while Gardeck sticks mainly to special teams.
This shows that I believe Kennard is the likeliest option to take over for the departed Chandler Jones. However, given his track record over the past two seasons, I further believe he will have little room for error.
Kennard has clearly shown in the past that he can be an effective edge rusher, evidenced by his 14 sacks and 29 QB hits between 2018 and 2019. Unfortunately, most fans have written him off, and the coaching staff may even see him as a stopgap at most. But this may fuel the fire Kennard needs to become an effective pass rusher once more.