Cardinals Draft Notes: Lewis, Jones
- Nebraska offensive lineman Alex Lewis has logged official visits with the Cardinals, Titans, Giants, Colts, Eagles, Ravens, Lions, Bears, Packers and Saints, tweets Mike Jurecki of FOX Sports 910 (Twitter link).
- The Colts worked out Jacksonville University receiver Andy Jones this week, a source told Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Jones, who possesses a 41.5-inch vertical leap, visited with the Cardinals and Jaguars previously, tweets Wilson.
Tony Jefferson Had Interest Elsewhere
- Safety Tony Jefferson inked a one-year qualifying offer with the Cardinals on Monday, but he almost wound up elsewhere, as Kyle Odegard of AZCardinals.com writes. “I came close (to signing) with a few teams,” said Jefferson, though the Cardinals had the option to match any offer sheet given. “We didn’t really put stuff out there (publicly), but we came close with a few teams. At the same time, I’m stoked to be back here.” While he talked with teams, no one presented him with a formal offer. Jefferson, who has started 17 games for the Cardinals over the last three seasons, had a strong 2015, notching 74 tackles, three forced fumbles, two sacks, and a pair of interceptions, including one for a touchdown.
Cardinlals Meeting With Cardale Jones; Met With Miles Killebrew
- Goff and Wentz are two of several quarterbacks expected to be taken in the first round, but Ohio State’s Cardale Jones is one of the more interesting options that figures to be available on Day 2 or 3. As Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com writes, Jones has attracted the attention of both the Cardinals and the Chargers — each club will make the trek to Columbus to meet with the signal-caller. Arizona and its downfield passing attack, particularly, would mesh well with Jones’ skill-set.
- Southern Utah safety Miles Killebrew had a private workout with Buccaneers secondary coach Brett Maxie, according to Jenna Laine (Twitter link). Killebrew has had a busy schedule, as he’s had workouts with the Patriots, Cardinals, Titans, Panthers, and Browns, per Laine (Twitter link).
Cardinals Looked At Clay DeBord
- The list of clubs that Eastern Washington offensive lineman Clay DeBord has worked out for or visited includes the 49ers, Lions, Jets, Falcons, Buccaneers, Titans, and Cardinals, tweets Rand Getlin.
Cardinals Notes: Fitzgerald, Doughty, Grant
Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is entering the final year of his contract with the team, but he says he hasn’t given much thought to his future beyond 2016, as Adam Green of ArizonaSports.com details.
“When I committed to doing two more years, I’m focused on two, and after the season — hopefully it’s in February — I’ll sit down with my family and think about it, what I want to do moving forward,” said the longtime Cardinals wideout during an appearance on Arizona Sports 98.7FM. “But it’s been a great run and I really enjoy being in this community and playing for this organization.”
Although it seems unlikely that Fitzgerald would contemplate retirement in the near future if he keeps performing at the level that he did in 2015, he suggested that his future will likely be linked to the Cardinals’ quarterback situation.
“A lot of is tied to (Cardinals quarterback) Carson (Palmer),” Fitzgerald said. “Carson’s playing at a high level. I don’t want to go through any other quarterback situations. It’s been great to have the stability that we have now with the big fella, he’s been playing light’s out.”
- The Cardinals, the Bears, and Washington were among the teams to host Western Kentucky QB Brandon Doughty for pre-draft visits, according to Rand Getlin of the NFL Network (via Twitter). Doughty also participated in the Dolphins’ local workout day earlier this month.
- After meeting with Miami earlier this week, Texas Tech wide receiver Jakeem Grant visited the Cardinals on Tuesday and is making his final visit today to Chicago to meet with the Bears, tweets Rand Getlin.
Cardinals Interested In Arizona State WR Devin Lucien
- Arizona State receiver Devin Lucien visited the Bengals on Tuesday, per Getlin, who notes that he has also visited with/and or worked out for the Cardinals, Patriots and Rams (via Twitter).
Cardinals Release Cory Redding
Veteran defensive lineman Cory Redding, viewed as a possible cap casualty for the Cardinals, has officially been released by the team, according to a press release. As a vested veteran, Redding will become an unrestricted free agent without first passing through waivers.
The Cardinals entered the day with just $2.29MM in cap room, according to Over the Cap’s data. That gave the team the second-least amount of cap space in the NFL, limiting the club’s flexibility. Cutting Redding will reduce his cap hit from $4MM to $1MM, removing his non-guaranteed $3MM salary from the Cardinals’ books and creating a little more breathing room.
As Darren Urban writes at AZCardinals.com, Redding contemplated retirement before signing with the Cardinals last year. After playing a limited role in Arizona in 2015 – he failed to make a start for the first time since his 2003 rookie year – the 35-year-old may mull retiring once again. For now though, he’ll be a free agent, with the freedom to sign anywhere.
In his 12 games last season, Redding played 183 defensive snaps, picking up five tackles and two passes defended. He did show a knack for coming up with big plays, grabbing his second career interception, and recovering a pair of fumbles, including one for a touchdown.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Tony Jefferson, D.J. Swearinger Sign RFA Tenders
With their voluntary offseason workouts getting underway, the Cardinals have secured three of their restricted free agents, the club announced today. As Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com details, safety Tony Jefferson, safety D.J. Swearinger, and wide receiver Jaron Brown all signed their RFA tenders.
All three players received low-end RFA tenders worth $1.671MM from the Cardinals, and there was some speculation that Jefferson, who drew some interest from other teams, including Oakland, might sign an offer sheet, which the Cardinals would have to decide whether or not to match. However, Jefferson and his two teammates will all return to Arizona on one-year, $1.671MM contracts, making them potentially eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2017.
Jefferson, who has started 17 games for the Cardinals over the last three seasons, filled up the stat sheet in 2015, recording 74 tackles, three forced fumbles, two sacks, and a pair of interceptions, including one for a touchdown. He suggested earlier in April that he didn’t mind the idea of playing as an RFA this year rather than signing a below-market offer sheet.
“You don’t want to get yourself locked into long-term deals where you don’t even like your salary, and you’re unrestricted next year, so you have a chance to make more money,” Jefferson said.
Swearinger, a former second-round pick, joined the Cardinals last December and appeared in four regular-season games for the team down the stretch, while Brown played in all 16 games, but caught just 11 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Cardinals Meet With Canadian Corner
- The Cardinals recently met with University of Calgary cornerback Elie Bouka, Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star reports. Chiefs officials also contacted the corner, who plans to work out for other teams as the draft approaches. The 6-foot-1 Bouka missed the 2015 season with a torn left Achilles. Bouka initially signed with Weber State on 2011 national signing day but backed out after a coaching change.
- Denver plans to give 2015 second-round pick Ty Sambrailo a long look at guard, Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports. Sambrailo started three games as the Broncos’ left tackle last season after moving from the right-edge post he was supposed to occupy just after Ryan Clady was lost for the season. Pro Football Focus tabbed Sambrailo as a low-end tackle in his three starts, but the Super Bowl champions have an opening at guard after losing Evan Mathis to the Cardinals and cutting Louis Vasquez.
Cardinals Interested In Bowling Green WR Ryan Burbring
- The Buccaneers, Cardinals, Chargers and Chiefs are all interested in Bowling Green receiver/returner Ryan Burbring, per Wilson (on Twitter).