Veteran Jerry Hughes could improve the Arizona Cardinals pass rush

Veteran Jerry Hughes continues to fly under the radar as the rumors about the Arizona Cardinals acquiring a pass-rusher persist. 

It’s that time of the year once again for the Arizona Cardinals. General manager Steve Keim is more than likely working the phones, attempting to orchestrate a trade for a player who can help the Cards get to the playoffs.

This time around, Arizona is in desperate need of a pass-rusher. Through seven games, defensive coordinator Vance Joseph’s unit has tallied just 11 quarterback sacks. The Redbirds need to acquire someone who can add to that number if they hope to get to the postseason for a second-consecutive year.

With the November 1st trade-deadline rapidly approaching, one top edge-rusher has already found a new home. The Philadelphia Eagles sent a fourth-round draft choice to the Chicago Bears for Robert Quinn, a three-time Pro Bowler who has 102 sacks on his NFL resume. Denver Broncos outside linebacker Bradley Chubb could also be available, but the asking price will likely be steep for the fifth-overall pick of the 2018 draft.

There’s another sack-specialist the Cardinals could target who would probably be much less expensive. If Keim is willing, the club could quite possibly obtain this individual for the low, low price of a late-round draft selection.

Arizona Cardinals could target Jerry Hughes before trade deadline

Jerry Hughes, a 6 foot 2, 254 pounder from the Houston Texans, has racked up 62 sacks during his 13-year pro career. With a 1-4-1 record, the Texans are going nowhere, so there’s a strong possibility that the franchise would take whatever they can get for the 34-year-old Hughes.

In six starts for Houston this season, Hughes has been credited with four sacks. For those keeping score, the veteran would be leading the Cards with that total. At the moment, defensive end J.J. Watt is at the top of the team’s list with a measly 2.5 sacks.

Hughes entered the league back in 2010 as a first-round draft choice of the Indianapolis Colts. The former TCU product’s professional career took off after he was traded to the Buffalo Bills in 2013. Hughes would play in front of the “Bills Mafia” for nine campaigns, registering 53 sacks along the way.

The still-effective pass-rusher signed a two-year contract with Houston back in May, and is probably sorry that he did. A scenario in which Hughes is wearing a Cardinals uniform could be just a phone call from Keim away.

(Statistics provided by Pro Football Reference)