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Arizona Cardinals News & Rumors

Cardinals Hope To Re-Sign Patrick Peterson

February 18th, 2021 at 12:20pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cardinals hope to retain Patrick Peterson, owner Michael Bidwill says (via the team website). The cornerback has spent his entire ten-year career in Arizona, but he’ll be eligible for free agency in March. 

“Pat and I have had a number of conversations. I’ve been very clear that we want to have him back,” Bidwill said. “We all know that the salary cap is going to go down. I think a lot of these veteran players need to work with us, and they need to understand that while their salary expectations and their compensation expectations may be one thing, we’ve got to look at it from the reality that the salary cap is going down. It’s our hope we can work something out that works for both the club and for Pat to keep him in a Cardinals uniform. He’s been an important part of what we’ve done in the past, and hope to keep him in the future.”

Bidwill’s comments regarding the salary cap decrease are accurate, though the drop might not be all that severe. Earlier today, we learned that the league’s salary cap floor will be set at $180MM, rather than $175MM. That bodes well for the max, which was once projected to be $180MM-$181MM for 2021.

Peterson, meanwhile, is one of the most accomplished defenders in franchise history. Of courses, things have been bumpy in recent years. P2’s performance has slipped a bit over the past two seasons, and his 2019 PED suspension didn’t help his case much. Coincidentally, Peterson backed down from his trade demand right around the same time. In 2020, Pro Football Focus ranked Peterson as just the No. 83 CB in the NFL. In 2018, he placed fifth.

The Cardinals have a leg up on other teams, with Kyler Murray having multiple years to go on his rookie deal. However, they’ll have to balance their affinity for Peterson against other needs. They’ll also look to re-sign Larry Fitzgerald, if he ultimately decides to return for another season.

Cardinals Sign OL Branden Bowen

February 17th, 2021 at 5:10pm CST by Ben Levine

There’s a bit of uncertainty on the Cardinals offensive line, so the team has decided to bring in some additional depth. The team announced today that they’ve signed Branden Bowen.

The Ohio State product showed versatility during his collegiate career, playing both offensive guard and offensive tackle. However, he also dealt with a broken fibula (and three subsequent surgeries) that forced him to miss half of the 2017 campaign and all of the 2018 season. He managed to return to the lineup in 2019, and he was picked up by the Panthers as an undrafted free agent last summer. He was ultimately cut by the team at the end of camp.

With an actual preseason and more years removed from his injury, Bowen may have an opportunity to stick around Arizona. Right tackle Kelvin Beachum could leave via free agency, leaving the organization with 2020 opt-out Marcus Gilbert and 2020 third-rounder Josh Jones as their only fallback options. Guards Max Garcia and J.R. Sweezy are also set to hit free agency, meaning Bowen could have options to compete at multiple spots.

As Darren Urban of the team website points out, this signing gives the Cardinals 56 players on their 90-man offseason roster.

Haason Reddick Wants To Stay With Cards

February 17th, 2021 at 3:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

After bouncing between positions for three different coaching staffs in Arizona, Haason Reddick broke through as a pass rusher in his contract year. Now, the former first-round pick is on track to be a sought-after free agent.

Reddick recorded 12.5 sacks, after the Cards turned to him as an edge rusher following Chandler Jones‘ injury, and profiles as an intriguing free agent target. Despite the Cardinals not picking up his fifth-year option and having benched him in the past, Reddick is open to re-signing to stay in Arizona.

“I don’t really know all the ins and outs of what’s to happen as far as negotiations and what I’m able to do but hopefully I’ll get to stay here,” Reddick said, via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. “I would like to stay here, but we’ll see what happens when the time comes.”

Slotted at multiple off-ball linebacker positions in the past, Reddick moved to the edge — his college role — full time in 2019 and became a starter at that spot after Jones went down with a biceps tear last season. The Cardinals, however, have Jones under contract for 2021 and signed Devon Kennard as an edge player last year. Arizona has Reddick and Markus Golden due for free agency next month. Golden, who would be a cheaper alternative to Reddick at this point, would like to stay with the team that drafted him.

Reddick profiles as an interesting franchise tag candidate, given his lack of production until last season. The Steelers and Buccaneers slapped tags on contract-year edge producers Bud Dupree and Shaquil Barrett last year. The linebacker tag is expected to come in around $14.6MM, which is down from the 2020 tag price. Jones going into a contract year, after having thrived since signing a deal worth just $16.5MM annually, complicates a potential Reddick return.

The Cardinals have until March 9 to determine if they will tag Reddick and have exclusive negotiating rights with him until the legal tampering period begins March 15.

Cardinals To Let Patrick Peterson Walk?

February 17th, 2021 at 10:20am CST by Sam Robinson

One of the top defenders in Cardinals history may be on the move next month. The Cardinals bringing Patrick Peterson back on a third contract stands as an unlikely scenario, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com.

The former top-five pick was linked to trades in 2018 and ’19 and a possible Cardinals extension last year, but he remained with the Cardinals on a contract he signed way back in 2014. Peterson played out that deal last year and is one month from unrestricted free agency for the first time.

However, Peterson has seen his play slip a bit over the past two seasons. The All-Decade performer made eight Pro Bowls to start his career but was slapped with a six-game PED suspension to start the 2019 season. After Pro Football Focus graded Peterson fifth among corners in 2018, he slipped to 41st in ’19 and 83rd in ’20. Quarterbacks throwing in Peterson’s direction last season collectively completed passes at a 67% clip — nearly 10 points higher than they did in 2018.

The Cards’ extension talks with Peterson stalled in May of last year and did not regain steam ahead of his age-30 season. Peterson, who will turn 31 in June, said last week no final decision has been made between he and the Cardinals about a separation. Were Peterson to leave, the Cardinals would need immediate help at corner. They also have Dre Kirkpatrick bound for free agency and have seen 2019 acquisition Robert Alford miss two full seasons. Byron Murphy‘s rookie deal runs through 2022, but Arizona may need multiple new cogs to join him soon.

Peterson hitting the market would mean two members of the 2010s All-Decade corner contingent would be free agents, with fellow 2011 draftee Richard Sherman on track for free agency.

Gardeck Had Torn ACL

February 15th, 2021 at 10:26pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg
  • Cardinals outside linebacker Dennis Gardeck had a breakout 2020 season when he recorded seven sacks, but unfortunately it ended in injury. He was placed on injured reserve with a couple of games left to go, but we didn’t know at the time how severe it was. In an Instagram post last month, Gardeck revealed it was a torn ACL that he suffered. An UDFA in 2018 out of D2 school Sioux Falls, he was just a special teamer his first two years. He still was only getting limited snaps this past year but made the most of them, racking up the seven sacks despite playing less than ten percent of the defensive snaps. He had three multi-sack games. Unfortunately due to how late his ACL tear came, he should be considered questionable for Week 1 right now.

Kyler Murray Still Wants To Play Baseball

February 9th, 2021 at 1:03pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Before he was the first overall pick of the Cardinals in the 2019 NFL Draft, Kyler Murray was the ninth overall pick of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Oakland A’s. Then he went on to win the Heisman Trophy, causing him to rocket up NFL draft boards. Even after winning the Heisman Murray initially was reported to be pursuing baseball over football, but obviously that changed when it became clear just how high he’d be drafted. We haven’t heard a ton about his baseball passions since, but he made it clear he isn’t over the game in interviews this past week. “I would love to” play baseball again one day Murray said on The Pat McAfee Show, via Jeremy Cluff of the Arizona Republic. “I think it’s still there because I’ve been doing it my whole life. It wasn’t like I have to turn this off to be elite at football.”

When asked if he could see himself playing football and baseball at the same time one day soon, Murray said “I hope so. I hope so. I mean, I would love to. I think that would be good for everybody … I think it is tough because I play quarterback.” He also added that walking away from Oakland was “definitely the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make.” The Cardinals likely aren’t as enthused about the possibility, and it’s specifically in his contract that he’s not allowed to play baseball. Maybe when it comes time for Murray to get a contract extension from Arizona, he’ll look to negotiate a clause that allows him to try his hand at baseball? It’s certainly fun to think about, and I think every fan would be hoping he can become the next Bo Jackson or Deion Sanders.

Cardinals’ Patrick Peterson On Free Agency

February 9th, 2021 at 11:59am CST by Zachary Links

This week, there were rumblings about Patrick Peterson and the Cardinals agreeing to part ways. However, that was nothing more than a “dirty rumor,” according to the cornerback (via the team website). 

“There is no real update,” Peterson said on his All Things Covered podcast. “It is just…a dirty rumor. Me and the team haven’t talked about contracts, we haven’t talked about parting ways. That’s just what it is, a dirty rumor.”

Peterson, 31 in July, is set to hit the open market in March. In 2020, he counted for a $13.2MM charge against Arizona’s salary cap. With a new multi-year deal, the Cardinals could have the flexibility to spread out the hits over time, provided that they want to move forward with him.

Drafted fifth overall by Arizona back in 2011, Peterson has become a franchise icon over the past decade. After eight Pro Bowls, three first-team All-Pro selections, and countless flare-ups with team brass, P2 says he’s open to a new arrangement. He could wind up anywhere, he concedes, but one thing is for sure — he wants to keep playing. In fact, his goal is to keep it going for another six seasons to solidify what he says is a “Hall of Fame resume.”

Cardinals To Sign Cole McDonald

February 4th, 2021 at 11:31am CST by Zachary Links

The Cardinals are signing quarterback Cole McDonald (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). McDonald will provide offseason depth for Arizona as he begins his push to make the fall cut.

The former University of Hawaii standout has yet to see live action in the NFL. The Titans snagged him in the seventh-round of last year’s 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 is out to prove that he deserves a good chunk of that credit.

There’s a path for McDonald to stick on the depth chart. Backup Chris Streveler stumbled in the season finale as he filled in for Kyler Murray. Meanwhile, Brett Hundley is out-of-contract. The Cardinals didn’t sign McDonald immediately after his December audition, but it seems that he made a strong enough impression on Kliff Kingsbury & Co.

Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald: “No Timeline” For Decision

February 4th, 2021 at 9:58am CST by Zachary Links

Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald still isn’t sure about his plans for 2021 and beyond. When asked at a Pro-Am tournament in Arizona, Fitzgerald stressed that he isn’t in any rush to announce his retirement or return. 

“I’m just playing golf right now, that’s all I’m worried about,” Fitzgerald said. “No timeline. I’m just taking it day by day. Honestly I haven’t given it much thought.”

Speculation about Fitzgerald’s future has become something of an offseason staple. In 2017, Fitzgerald was thought to be on his farewell tour. Then, midway through the year, he inked a one-year extension worth $11MM. A few re-ups later, Fitzgerald is still going. In his age-37 season, Fitzgerald was still reasonably productive with 54 catches for 409 yards and one touchdown. The 11-time Pro Bowler has pretty much done it all, save for capturing a Super Bowl ring.

“You wouldn’t see me around here anymore if [we win the Super Bowl],” Fitzgerald said last September. “Another catch, another touchdown, another yard is not going to make more whatever – my legacy is pretty much cemented. I just want to win a championship, I want to compete for a division title. Those are the things that are important to me.”

The chase could lead him to return for his age-38 campaign but, for now, he’s keeping the focus on his family and his short game.

Markus Golden Wants To Stay With Cards

January 29th, 2021 at 6:34pm CST by Sam Robinson
  • Markus Golden‘s sack total dropped from 10 in 2019 to 4.5 in 2020, and the Cardinals saw Haason Reddick complete a contract-year breakout. Still, the older Arizona edge rusher would like to return. “It gave me another shock of energy just being back home,” Golden said of the trade that sent him from the Giants to the Cards, via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. “Being here where I know my heart is, it really matters to me to be in Arizona on the Cardinals.” Golden, who signed with the Giants in 2019 and stayed in New York via the rare UFA tender last year, is set for free agency for a third straight year.
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