Four talented veterans who are scheduled to hit free agency could make the Arizona Cardinals a better football team in 2023.
For all intents and purposes, the current campaign has come to an end for the Arizona Cardinals. While the team has not been mathematically eliminated, there’s very little chance that the Cards will secure a spot in the playoffs.
With nothing but pride left to play for this season, it’s time for Arizona’s front office to start formulating a plan for next year. The club is weak in a variety of areas, so multiple reinforcements will be needed.
One way to improve the roster is by prying talented players away from other organizations. The following are four prospective free agents who the Cardinals would be wise to pursue in 2023.
Marcus Peters – Cornerback
For some unknown reason, the Arizona Cardinals all but ignored the defense’s need for a lockdown cover guy last offseason. General manager Steve Keim did orchestrate a trade for Trayvon Mullen this past August, but the 25-year-old has contributed very little to Vance Joseph’s unit.
What Arizona needs is a high-profile addition at the position, and veteran Marcus Peters would fit the bill. The three-time Pro Bowler has been with the Baltimore Ravens since 2019, following stints with the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs.
In his 96 NFL appearances (95 starts), the 29-year-old Peters has amassed 314 tackles, 32 interceptions, 91 passes defensed and a whopping seven defensive touchdowns. The Cardinals would be more than set at cornerback with Peters and Byron Murphy roaming the secondary next season.
Garrett Bradbury – Center
One of the Cards’ biggest disappointments this fall has been the knee injury that has sidelined center Rodney Hudson for the past eight matchups. In hindsight, the franchise should’ve allowed the three-time Pro Bowler to retire when he was contemplating his future last summer.
Arizona will need to move in a different direction at the position in ’23, and Garrett Bradbury would be an outstanding replacement for Hudson. The 6 foot 3, 300 pounder has started 57 games for the Minnesota Vikings, and the Redbirds could sure use his toughness after their experience with Hudson.
A back ailment did keep Bradbury out of Minnesota’s loss this past Sunday to the Detroit Lions. If the injury isn’t serious, it would behoove the Cardinals to pursue the anchor of the Vikings offensive line next spring.
Javon Hargrave – Defensive Tackle
The Cards desperately need to replace the Rashard Lawrence-Leki Fotu combination on the front line of their defense. Keim selected both players during the fourth round of the 2020 draft, and neither has taken advantage of the opportunities they’ve been given.
Enter Javon Hargrave, the stud defensive tackle of the Philadelphia Eagles. The 29-year-old excels against both the run and the pass, as evidenced by the 46 tackles and eight sacks he has tallied in 13 starts for Philly this year.
There are those who believe that J.J. Watt will be playing elsewhere next fall. If that’s true, Arizona should take the money they were paying Watt and use it to bring Hargrave to the desert.
Matt Gay – Placekicker
The Cardinals, like most professional franchises, are well aware of how important a placekicker can be to a team’s success. If not for a pair of missed field-goals by Matt Ammendola and Matt Prater this season, head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s crew could’ve had two more difference-making victories to their credit.
A hip problem has cost Prater four contests this season, and the 38-year-old could very well be nearing the end of his pro career. The incredibly-accurate Matt Gay is scheduled to test free agency and would look sensational in a Cards uniform.
The Los Angeles Rams kicker has booted 65 of his last 71 field-goal tries through the uprights (91.5%), and has misfired on just one extra-point out of his last 88 attempts. By acquiring Gay, Arizona would also be taking the 6 foot, 232 pounder away from a despised division rival.
(Statistics provided by Pro Football Reference)
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