3 pending UFAs the Arizona Cardinals can take from the Browns
By Sion Fawkes
With Drew Petzing on board to be the Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator, don’t be surprised if the Redbirds raid the Browns in free agency.
The Arizona Cardinals have some money to spend, and expect them to allocate some of it toward talent who can help them oversee a transition on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Since Drew Petzing signed on to become the Cards new offensive coordinator, look for a few players to potentially swap orange and brown for cardinal and white.
Particularly on the offensive side of the ball. So below, we outlined three pending unrestricted free agents from the Browns who the Cardinals could target in free agency.
1 – Jacoby Brissett, QB
Other than perhaps Gardner Minshew, there is no part-time starter better equipped to take over for Kyler Murray as the latter looks like he will miss at least the first few weeks of the 2023 season. While Brissett is by no means a potential long-term answer, he makes for an excellent stopgap and resource for the Cardinals signal-caller.
Regardless of where Brissett’s played, he’s shown himself capable of quickly grasping any situation and making the most of it. While he finished 4-7 last season as a starter, he still completed 64.0% of his passes for 2,608 yards, 12 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, and garnered a quarterback rating of 88.9.
2 – Ethan Pocic, C
Per PFF, Pocic scored a 2022 grade of 79.0, finishing third out of 36 qualifying centers. With Rodney Hudson departing and no viable option at center, don’t be surprised if general manager Monti Ossenfort prioritizes bringing Pocic to the desert.
Not only would he provide ample protection for Murray and the To-Be-Determined stopgap; he would also be a sound leader for an offense sorely lacking direction. If Pocic comes to Arizona, it would be HUGE for the Cardinals.
3 – D’Ernest Johnson, RB
D’Ernest Johnson is brimming with talent, but unfortunately for him, he was stuck behind Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt all season. While the latter two combined for 425 carries and 1,993 rushing yards, Johnson saw just four touches for 17.
More. When does NFL free agency start for the Cardinals?. light
But don’t let that lack of production fool you. In 2021, he had 100 rushes for 534 yards, good for 5.3 yards per carry. The year before that, he saw 33 touches for 166 yards (5.0 yards per carry). So if the Cards are looking for a sound RB2, they may look long and hard at Johnson.
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