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Arizona Cardinals News & Rumors

Cardinals Sign First-Round LB Zaven Collins

June 8th, 2021 at 7:14pm CST by Ben Levine

The Cardinals have signed their top draft pick. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that first-round linebacker Zaven Collins has signed his rookie deal. The deal is worth more than $14MM (per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Twitter).

“It’s special,” Collins said (via the team’s website). “You know it’s coming, but until it’s here, you don’t know how you’re going to feel. It’s still a big milestone.”

After finishing with four sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss, the Tulsa product earned a long list of awards in 2020, including an unanimous All-American nod. This performance established him as one of the top prospects at his position in the draft, and the Cardinals made Collins the second linebacker off the board after selecting him with the No. 16 pick.

Despite the first-rounder checking in at 270 pounds, the team isn’t planning to use him as a Chandler Jones complementary pass rusher. The second hybrid linebacker to join the Cards as a first-round pick in the past two years, Collins is ticketed for an inside linebacker role alongside 2020 first-rounder Isaiah Simmons.

With the signing, the Cardinals have now inked the majority of their draft class:

Round 1: No. 16 Zaven Collins, LB (Tulsa) (signed)
Round 2: No. 49 Rondale Moore, WR (Purdue)
Round 4: No. 136 (from Ravens) Marco Wilson, CB (Florida) (signed)
Round 6: No. 210 (from Ravens) Victor Dimukeje, LB (Duke) (signed)
Round 6: No. 223 (from Vikings) Tay Gowan, CB (Central Florida) (signed)
Round 7: No. 243 James Wiggins, S (Cincinnati) (signed)
Round 7: No. 247 (from Bears through Raiders) Michal Menet, C (Penn State) (signed)

Jim Fassel Dies At 71

June 8th, 2021 at 8:23am CST by Zachary Links

Jim Fassel has died of a heart attack at the age of 71 (via the Los Angeles Times). Fassel coached in the NFL from 1991 through 2006 and is known best for his time with the Giants.

Fassel broke into the pro ranks with the Giants and became one of three head coaches in franchise history to lead the team to a Super Bowl. In 1997, his first year as the Giants’ head coach, Fassel was named the NFL’s Coach of the Year. From 97 through ’03, Fassel guided the Giants to three playoff appearances. All in all, Fassel went 58-53-1 as the Giants’ HC.

After his first Giants stint, Fassel served as the Broncos’ offensive coordinator (1993-1994), Raiders’ quarterbacks coach (1995) and Cardinals’ OC (1996). Then, after his six-year run as the Giants’ head coach, he spent three years with the Ravens, including two as their OC. Fassel’s last coaching position was with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. The UFL ceased in 2012, but Fassel continued to live in Vegas throughout his golden years.

Although Fassel fell short of a ring during his six-year tenure as head coach, he’ll be fondly remembered for igniting the 2000 Giants in the face of critics.

“This is a poker game, and I’m shoving my chips to the middle of the table,” Fassel told reporters in November of that year. “I’m raising the ante, and anybody who wants in, get in. Anybody who wants out can get out.”

Julio Jones Fallout: Contract, Suitors, Titans

June 7th, 2021 at 4:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

In a trade that will send one of the 21st century’s best players to the AFC, the Titans moved ahead of the pack in this pursuit via a firm offer. The Titans were the only serious Jones suitor, according to NBC Sports’ Peter King.

The Falcons spoke with several teams on Jones, though offers were scarce. At various points in this process, the team discussed the All-Pro wide receiver with every NFC West franchise. The Cardinals are a new entrant in this derby, but Albert Breer of SI.com notes neither they nor their NFC West rivals sent the Falcons firm offers.

The Titans initially proposed sending the Falcons a conditional third-rounder that could become a second, Breer adds, but Atlanta had Tennessee’s proposal of a second-rounder sans conditions on the table for a bit. Sunday-morning negotiations that ended with the teams agreeing to exchange later-round picks finalized the deal, according to King.

Tennessee’s willingness to absorb Jones’ $15.3MM guaranteed salary also outflanked other suitors, per Breer, who notes the Falcons were not interested in eating part of Jones’ 2021 salary in order to sweeten trade compensation. No first-round pick was offered, Breer notes, though at one point a first did come up as part of a potential pick swap.

A Jones-Falcons divorce first surfaced around draft time, and it became a deal framed around the new Falcons regime receiving cap relief. Given the salary component in these talks, that certainly is a key reason why Jones is Nashville-bound. But this separation began when Jones and the Falcons negotiated his wideout-record three-year, $66MM extension. Jones lobbied the Falcons for a new deal after the 2017 season; the Falcons refused and ended up making minor adjustments to his previous contract in 2018. The future Hall of Famer pursued the matter again in 2019. While the sides hammered out an agreement, the months-long negotiations — which ended with a Sept. 7 accord — took a toll on both parties. Jones communicated to the Falcons he wanted out in March.

Although the Ravens pursued several receivers this offseason and signed Sammy Watkins, their Jones interest ceased after the draft. Baltimore using first- and fourth-round picks on wideouts — Rashod Bateman and Tylan Wallace — ended its talks with its former division rival. Finances scuttled Seahawks involvement, King notes, adding the Patriots were also not serious players in this chase.

It sounds like the Falcons are preparing for a pricey Calvin Ridley extension. The 2018 first-round pick is now eligible for a new deal, and the Falcons are preparing for that expensive re-up, per Breer, by getting the Jones contract off their books. Though Atlanta is still eating some dead money from this trade, the team has some time on a Ridley extension. The Falcons picked up his fifth-year option in May, locking up Ridley through 2022.

Cardinals Bring Back DT Xavier Williams

June 7th, 2021 at 2:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

Xavier Williams is set to return to the desert. The Cardinals are bringing back the veteran defensive tackle, according to a team announcement. Williams began his career in Arizona but has played elsewhere over the past three seasons. It’s a one-year deal.

The former UDFA interior lineman left to join his hometown team in 2018, signing an RFA offer sheet with the Chiefs. That alliance lasted two seasons, with Kansas City not re-signing Williams last year. Williams played with the Bengals and Patriots in 2020.

Prior to Williams’ defection to Missouri, the Cardinals used him as a role player in the middle of their 3-4 defense. He played for three of Arizona’s James Bettcher-run defenses, but the Cards have seen some defensive coordinator turnover since. Williams will now attempt to make the Cards’ 53-man roster as a nose tackle in Vance Joseph‘s 3-4 scheme.

Williams, 29, worked as a regular for the Chiefs’ 13-3 team in 2018 and returned from injury to contribute to their 2019 team’s Super Bowl-winning march. Last season, the 6-foot-2 nose played 11 games (three starts) with the Bengals. He will join 2020 fourth-round pick Leki Fotu among Cardinals D-tackles. Corey Peters remains unsigned, though the veteran D-lineman said he has spoken with the Cardinals about returning for a sixth Arizona season.

To make room on their roster, the Cards waived linebacker Shareef Miller. Originally a fourth-round Eagles pick, Miller has played in one regular-season game.

Corey Peters, Cardinals Have Discussed New Deal

June 5th, 2021 at 9:03am CST by Ben Levine

Corey Peters‘ stint with the Cardinals may not be finished after all. The veteran nose tackle told Sports Illustrated that he’s discussed re-signing with Arizona.

“We’ve talked, but my options are open,” the 32-year-old said. “I’m looking forward to whatever opportunity presents itself . . . I put roots down here, my home is here, so I would love to stay. And then also my community work; I really have a special connection to the south Phoenix community. I’d love to be here, but I understand the business part of it and it is what it is. And at the end of the day, we will do what’s best for us. Just as I expect the teams to do what’s best for them.”

Following a five-year stint with the Falcons to begin his career, Peters has been with the Cardinals organization since 2015. While he sat out his first season in Arizona, he’s otherwise had a consistent role on their defense, collecting eight sacks and 26 tackles for loss in 67 games. Unfortunately, Peters’ 2020 season was cut short after he suffered a season-ending knee injury, and teams are presumably taking a cautious approach as they see how the defensive lineman recovers.

For what it’s worth, Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury also made it sound like he’d welcome re-signing Peters.

“We’re always looking to add talent; we know what Corey’s about,” said Kingsbury. “He was tremendous for us on and off the field, one of the great leaders in our locker room, so we’ll see how that plays out.

“And we’re excited about some of the young talent we have there as well. I thought Rashard (Lawrence) did a nice job last year stepping in. Leki (Fotu) really came a long way. And so we feel like we have some good pieces.”

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/3/21

June 3rd, 2021 at 5:56pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Detroit Lions

Las Vegas Raiders

Washington Football Team

Cardinals Sign CB Darqueze Dennard

June 3rd, 2021 at 1:09pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cardinals have signed cornerback Darqueze Dennard, per a club announcement. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link) hears that it’s a one-year contract. 

Dennard spent the early part of his career with the Bengals. The former first-round pick initially agreed to join the Jaguars in late March on a three-year, $13.5MM deal. However, that fell through due to complications with his knee injury. He then hooked on with the Falcons, where he appeared in eight games with six starts.

The Cardinals have been on the lookout for cornerback help. Currently, they count Malcolm Butler, Robert Alford, and Byron Murphy among their CB vets, plus newly drafted rookies Marco Wilson and Tay Gowan.

Injuries have slowed Dennard over the years but, when he’s healthy, he’s shown to be a solid slot option. In his last year with the Bengals (2019), Pro Football Focus graded Dennard as its No. 21 overall corner, during which he played 495 snaps. All in all, he’s played in 85 games throughout his career, including 30 starts.

This Date In Transactions History: Rams Release Kurt Warner

June 1st, 2021 at 6:40pm CST by Ben Levine

One of the best rags-to-riches tales in NFL history (temporarily) came to an end on this date 17 years ago. While no one knew it at the time, the story still had years to go before its conclusion. On June 1, 2004, the Rams released veteran quarterback Kurt Warner.

Warner, of course, went from an undrafted free agent and Arena Football League standout to NFL MVP. By the end of the 2003 campaign, Warner had easily cemented himself as one of the top athletes in St. Louis history. After getting thrust into the Rams starting lineup in 1999, the QB would go on to win a pair of MVPs, twice lead the NFL in touchdowns, and win a Super Bowl (along with a Super Bowl MVP). However, the wheels started to come off a bit during the 2002 season. Warner was limited to only six starts that season, with the Rams going 0-6 in those contests.

Warner was the starter to begin the 2003 campaign, but it somehow got worse. During his lone start, he had six fumbles, leading to his official benching. Meanwhile, fill-in Marc Bulger guided the Rams to a 12-3 record as a starter, cementing his spot as the Rams’ QB of the future. As a result, Warner found himself on the outs in St. Louis.

The writing was on the wall during the 2004 offseason. The Rams organization continued to work on a long-term pact with Bulger, and they also signed Chris Chandler to serve as the backup play-caller. So, with the June 1 deadline officially passing, the Rams decided to move on from Warner on this date in 2004. The move saved the Rams about $4.8MM in cap room while costing them about the same amount in dead cap, and they had to eat another $6MM-plus in 2005.

While Warner was reportedly seeking a starting gig following his release, he ultimately settled into a backup role as Eli Manning‘s mentor with the Giants. Warner actually had a chance to start at the beginning of the year, and he showed some improvement from his dreadful 2002 and 2003 campaigns. Still, he only finished with six touchdowns in nine starts, and the Giants voided the second-year of the QB’s contract at the conclusion of the season.

Warner added another chapter to his story in 2005. The veteran joined the Cardinals, and while he’d eventually earn a place in Arizona lore, it took a while for him to fully secure the starting gig. Thanks in part to injuries and the team’s desire to play top draft picks (including Matt Leinart), Warner only saw time in 16 games through his first two seasons with the organization, collecting a 3-12 record.

However, Warner experienced a career turnaround in 2007; his 27 touchdowns were his highest total since 2001. Then, Warner truly put himself back on the NFL map in 2008, earning a Pro Bowl nod after completing 67.1-percent of his passes for 4,583 yards and 30 touchdowns. More importantly, he guided his team to the Super Bowl, where he eventually lost to the Steelers. 2009 was another standout season for Warner, as he tossed 26 touchdowns while leading the Cardinals to a 10-5 record. However, that iteration of the Cardinals got blown out in the Divisional Round, and Warner announced his retirement soon after the season.

While no one thought Warner’s career was finished when he was released by the Rams on this date in 2004, few pundits probably envisioned him returning to the Pro Bowl, much less the Super Bowl. Just like Warner did during the early parts of his career, the QB managed to persevere and surprise during the second-half of his storied career.

Cardinals Cut QB Cole McDonald

May 27th, 2021 at 12:57pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cardinals have released quarterback Cole McDonald, per a club announcement. The former University of Hawaii standout was signed in February to provide offseason depth, but he’s been squeezed out of the crowded QB room. 

McDonald has yet to see live action in the NFL. The Titans snagged him in the seventh-round of the 2020 draft, but dropped him in August to make room for Trevor Siemian.

While with the Rainbow Warriors, McDonald finished third in the nation in passing yards. Most evaluators chalked that up to Hawaii’s highly-aggressive offense, but McDonald surely deserves some of the credit.

Without McDonald, the Cardinals are left with Chris Streveler and Colt McCoy behind Kyler Murray on the depth chart. It’s worth noting that Streveler stumbled in the season finale, so the Cardinals may look to bring in extra competition this summer.

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