Aside from the need for a new quarterback, bolstering the running back room, and adding to the offensive line, there weren’t many dire needs that the Cardinals had to address during free agency.
Once the Cardinals signed Gardner Minshew, Tyler Allgeier, and Isaac Seumalo, general manager Monti Ossenfort went quiet. He made only moves that would truly benefit Arizona down the road.
However, one late-game addition by Ossenfort could quietly pay dividends this season, as it addressed an area that desperately needed improvement, but didn’t get the same attention as the other holes.
The Cardinals signed former Chicago Bears’ kick and punt returner, Devin Duvernay, to a one-year deal worth $2.5 million.
In the one season he spent with the Bears, Duvernay never found the end zone on a return, but it was evident that the special teams unit was exponentially better when he was on the field.
Duvernay made sure to let fans and his teammates know why they brought him in, and it should draw a ton of excitement.
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“I help with field position and it’s a field position game.”
One of Duvernay’s best moments in 2025 came during the Bears’ Week 11 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, where he returned a kick 56 yards to set up Caleb Williams with a chance to lead a game-winning drive. Of course, he capitalized.
The hope is for those moments to come to Arizona and to set up an up-and-coming offense with plenty of opportunities to take full advantage of short fields.
Cardinals fans should be excited because Duvernay is going to give it his all in the return game, it will certainly be key to their success.