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Arizona Cardinals News & Rumors

Cardinals’ Robert Alford Suffers Torn Pec

August 17th, 2020 at 1:49pm CST by Zachary Links

Cardinals cornerback Robert Alford suffered a pectoral injury in practice yesterday, sources tell Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). Alford is now awaiting word on the diagnosis and a timeline for recovery. 

[RELATED: Cardinals Sign Kentrell Brice]

This is, unfortunately, familiar territory for Alford. A leg injury in August of last year cost Alford the entire season. The Cardinals inked the veteran to a three-year, $22.5MM deal in 2019 and he has yet to take a single snap for Arizona.

Alford, 31, had been one of the Falcons’ longest-tenured players, as he’d been with the club since being selected in the second round of the 2013 draft. An 88-game veteran, Alford started 15 games in 2018 but posted arguably the worst campaign of his pro career. Pro Football Focus graded Alford as a bottom-10 cornerback league-wide that year. He also ranked dead last among 85 qualifiers in Football Outsiders’ yards per pass allowed and success rate.

Alford was eager to prove himself all over again this year, but he may have to wait until next year.

2020 NFL Cap Space, By Team

August 7th, 2020 at 10:20am CST by Zachary Links

A total of 67 NFL players opted out of the 2020 season, leaving teams with major roster holes and newly-found cap space. Here’s the rundown of every team’s official cap figure, via ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter):

  1. Cleveland Browns – $40.5MM
  2. New England Patriots – $33.4MM
  3. Washington Football Team – $30.6MM
  4. Denver Broncos – $29.5MM
  5. New York Jets – $29.3MM
  6. Tennessee Titans – $25.2MM
  7. Miami Dolphins – $24.7MM
  8. Buffalo Bills – $24.2MM
  9. Philadelphia Eagles – $23.7MM
  10. Detroit Lions – $22.9MM
  11. Indianapolis Colts – $22.3MM
  12. New York Giants – $21.4MM
  13. Houston Texans – $21.1MM
  14. Cincinnati Bengals – $18.6MM
  15. Chicago Bears – $17.2MM
  16. Jacksonville Jaguars – $17MM
  17. Seattle Seahawks – $14.5MM
  18. Los Angeles Chargers – $13.7MM
  19. Green Bay Packers – $12.3MM
  20. Carolina Panthers – $13.2MM
  21. Kansas City Chiefs – $13MM
  22. San Francisco 49ers – $12.5MM
  23. Minnesota Vikings – $12.4MM
  24. Dallas Cowboys – $9.9MM
  25. New Orleans Saints – $7.8MM
  26. Atlanta Falcons – $7.4MM
  27. Baltimore Ravens – $7MM
  28. Arizona Cardinals – $5.6MM
  29. Pittsburgh Steelers – $4.5MM
  30. Los Angeles Rams – $3.9MM
  31. Las Vegas Raiders – $3.3MM
  32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – $1.4MM

Cardinals Sign Kentrell Brice, Two Others

August 5th, 2020 at 5:16pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Cardinals are expected to sign safety Kentrell Brice to a one-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Brice needs to pass a physical and a COVID-19 test before officially signing a pact.

Brice joined the Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2016 and appeared in 36 games over the next three seasons, including 10 starts in 2018. Since then, the 25-year-old has struggled to find playing time, but he’s been with the Buccaneers, Bears, and even had a short stint with the XFL’s Seattle Dragons.

The Cardinals already boast Budda Baker, Jalen Thompson, and Deionte Thompson atop their safety depth chart, so Brice will likely compete with fellow veteran Chris Banjo for special teams/reserve duty. Brice played nearly 300 special teams snaps back in 2016.

Arizona is also signing wide receiver Andre Patton and guard Koda Martin, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link) and Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com (Twitter link), respectively.

Cardinals’ Marcus Gilbert Opts Out

August 4th, 2020 at 3:55pm CST by Zachary Links

Add Marcus Gilbert to the growing list of opt outs. The Cardinals tackle has decided against playing in 2020, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. 

The Cardinals acquired Gilbert from the Steelers via trade in 2019, with the intention of installing him as their starting right tackle. Unfortunately, a knee injury forced Gilbert to injured reserve in early September. Gilbert has yet to play a down for the Cardinals, and his next opportunity to suit up won’t come until 2021. The veteran lineman appeared in just 12 total games from 2017-18 and he hasn’t played a full 16-game slate since 2015.

With Gilbert off the roster, the Cardinals could turn to Justin Murray or third-round rookie Josh Jones as their new first-string RT. Whoever wins that competition will play opposite of D.J. Humphries on the front line.

As of this writing, Gilbert is the 52nd player to opt out. NFL players have until Thursday afternoon to make the call, after which point the decision is irrevocable.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/3/20

August 3rd, 2020 at 3:04pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here. For the running list of opt out decisions, check out PFR’s 2020 Opt Out Tracker.

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

  • Released: QB Jalen Morton, FB Elijah Wellman

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

  • Claimed off waivers (from Colts): CB Picasso Nelson

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/27/20

July 27th, 2020 at 9:06am CST by Zachary Links

Teams are trimming players earlier than usual this year, thanks to the NFL’s recommendation for an 80-man roster max. We’ll keep track of the latest minor moves here:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

  • Waived: G Evan Adams, G Daishawn Dixon, T R.J. Prince, K Nick Vogel

Buffalo Bills

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Waived: CB Isiah Swann

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

Philadelphia Eagles

Tennessee Titans

Cardinals Round Out Draft Class Deals

July 22nd, 2020 at 4:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

In addition to signing first-round pick Isaiah Simmons, the Cardinals finished out their draft class’ rookie-contract agreements Wednesday.

Arizona agreed to terms with third-round tackle Josh Jones, fourth-round defensive linemen Leki Fotu and Rashard Lawrence, sixth-round linebacker Evan Weaver and seventh-round running back Eno Benjamin. These are all four-year deals.

Jones profiles as the most interesting of these selections, having a path to being Arizona’s starting right tackle in the near future. The Houston blocker was considered a potential first-round talent or a player who would go off the board in Round 2.

Kliff Kingsbury admitted he was stunned to see Jones on the board in Round 3. The Cardinals re-signed Marcus Gilbert, but the longtime Steelers right tackle missed all of last season and much of the 2018 campaign due to injuries. Jones was a four-year starter at left tackle for the Cougars, but the Cards just re-signed longtime left tackle D.J. Humphries.

Benjamin, who played at Arizona State, joins a backfield that lost David Johnson this offseason. The Cards kept Kenyan Drake via the transition tag. Backup Chase Edmonds is signed through 2021, however. Both Fotu and Lawrence figure to compete for rotational spots on a Cards D-line that recently added 2019 Bills sack leader Jordan Phillips.

Here is the Cards’ 2020 draft class:

1-8: Isaiah Simmons, LB (Clemson)
3-72: Josh Jones, T (Houston)
4-114: Leki Fotu, DT (Utah)
4-131: Rashard Lawrence, DT (LSU)
6-202: Evan Weaver, LB (Cal)
7-222: Eno Benjamin, RB (Arizona State)

Cardinals, Isaiah Simmons Agree To Deal

July 21st, 2020 at 10:09am CST by Zachary Links

The Cardinals have agreed to terms with Isaiah Simmons, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). Per the terms of his slot, the No. 8 overall pick will earn $20.66MM over the course of his four year deal, with $12.58MM coming in the form of a signing bonus. 

[RELATED: Cardinals To Sign Kelvin Beachum]

Evaluators were enamored by Simmons’ versatility heading into the draft, seeing him as a player who could seamlessly move between outside linebacker, inside linebacker, and the secondary. However, Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury says he’ll allow the Clemson star to focus on just one position as he learns the ropes.

“His ability to play so many positions and not really having a chance to focus on one, we just think the sky could be the limit for what he can be if we really lock him in one position for the majority of the time,” said Kingsbury.

Kingsbury didn’t specify which position that would be, but defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has indicated that he’ll play linebacker.

Simmons broke out as a sophomore in 2018 with 88 total stops, including nine tackles for a loss and two sacks. Things only picked up from there – Simmons managed 104 tackles, 16.5 tackles for a loss, eight sacks, and three interceptions as a junior en route being named the nation’s best linebacker. With freakish athleticism and a 6’4″, 230-pound frame, the Cardinals say the sky is the limit for Simmons.

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