Arizona Cardinals: Anderson’s impending release rightens another wrong

The Arizona Cardinals are about to end the entire Chosen Anderson experiment, which lasted for 10 measly games in 2022.

Last season, the Arizona Cardinals sent a sixth round pick in 2024 and a seventh rounder in 2025 to acquire Chosen Anderson, who enjoyed some success at the NFL level. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, the Anderson experiment went awry almost from Day One. 

During his time with Arizona, Anderson logged just seven catches, 76 yards, and 0 scores. The obvious upside here is that the Redbirds gave up little for Anderson, who enjoyed some stellar seasons in the past, including 2020, when he logged 95 receptions, 1,096 yards, and 3 touchdowns. 

That unfortunately was the highwater mark for Anderson, whose downward spiral as an NFL receiver started in 2021 when his catch total dropped to just 53. Before his trade to the desert, Anderson was a shell of his former self, having logged just 13 catches in six games. 

Those meager numbers alone should’ve told Keim that Anderson was done in the NFL. But then again, maybe he’s worth taking a flier on for such low trade compensation, right? 

Arizona Cardinals right to release Chosen Anderson

Not only does releasing Anderson right a wrong, it also saves the team some cap space. Per SpotTrac, Anderson’s impending release will free even more, $12 million to be exact, with no money toward the dead cap. 

This should be encouraging for Cardinals fans, as the team needs to find a way to rebuild the team from the inside and out. Saving another $12 million is definitely one step in the right direction, and it will give Arizona general manager Monti Ossenfort plenty of cash to spend when free agency hits. 

Overall, Anderson played nowhere near the lofty levels of his contract, and the Cardinals are right to immediately move on from yet another failure that the Steve Keim Era brought. The Cards can use that money to acquire players who could play in the desert long-term, and perhaps even land a couple of prize free agents. 

This also may not be the only major move Ossenfort makes to what was the team’s 2022 pass-catching unit, with trade rumors regarding DeAndre Hopkins heating up. When Ossenfort indeed moves on from Anderson, and if he sends Hopkins out of town, the Cardinals won’t just have more money to spend come free agency. They will also get a lot younger. 

Source: Report: Cardinals expected to release WR Chosen Anderson by Tyler Drake, ArizonaSports.com