The offseason giveth, and the offseason taketh away. Head coach Jonathan Gannon and the front office, led by general manager Monti Ossenfort, have been busy acquiring talent, transforming the Arizona Cardinals’ defense into a formidable threat. But, there were bound to be some departures, especially with the lingering free agents who have yet to re-sign.
If there was hope that veteran linebacker Dennis Gardeck would re-sign with Arizona (and, realistically, end his career as a Cardinal), then those hopes were dashed today. Gardeck announced he was trading Glendale for Jacksonville, reportedly signing a deal with the Jaguars.
Free agent linebacker Dennis Gardeck Signs with Jacksonville Jaguars: Report
Gardeck headed into the offseason as a free agent after spending seven seasons with the Cardinals. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported on June 4 that the veteran linebacker had signed with the Jags.
He joined the Cardinals in 2018 as an undrafted free agent. The West Virginia State/Sioux Falls player made it onto the Cardinals roster, playing all 16 games of his rookie year (primarily on special teams). He played on special teams as a sophomore before making his way onto the defense. He had 94 snaps in 2020, finishing the season with seven sacks (Gardeck's most as a Cardinal).
Gardeck had his best season in 2023, with 46 tackles, one forced fumble (and one fumble recovery). Sadly, as his performance was trending upward, the Illinois native’s 2024 season ended prematurely. He suffered a torn ACL during a Week 7 clash with the Los Angeles Chargers, bringing the curtain down not only on his season, but also on his tenure in Arizona.
Darren Urban, when writing for AZCardinals.com, remembers Gardeck’s impact:
Gardeck had 17 sacks in his seven-year Arizona stint, with 23 tackles for loss. He was a captain. He bonded with many in the building. He was ubiquitous in the community. He'd hit the strobe after taking down a quarterback and won over the fanbase in the process.
Was It Time To Move On?
Dennis had been with the organization under three head coaches: Steve Wilks, Kliff Kingsbury, and the current head coach, Gannon. For someone who went undrafted, he managed to carve out a career for himself, allowing him to sign a deal with another team. Good for him!
And it was time. Gardeck’s 2024 ACL injury was his second. He’s turning 31 in August. And as Urban pointed out, the Cardinals have overhauled the defensive edge position.
The team acquired Josh Sweat, and Baron Browning just re-signed. With Justin Jones, Zaven Collins, and Darius Robinson, Gardeck was likely going back to special teams. Instead, he’ll take his talents to South Beach—er, Northern Florida.
While the details of the deal weren’t immediately known, here’s hoping he got a good paycheck (and let's be grateful he didn’t go to an NFC West rival).
Godspeed, Dennis.