Cardinals Host Baker Mayfield
- The Cardinals hosted Oklahoma quarterback prospect Baker Mayfield on Wednesday, per Robert Klemko of Sports Illustrated (Twitter link). Mayfield is widely expected to be a top-10 selection, and has been heavily linked to the Jets at No. 3, so Arizona — which currently holds the 15th overall pick — likely won’t have a shot at the ex-Sooner unless it trades up. But the Cardinals certainly need an infusion of talent under center, as neither Sam Bradford nor Mike Glennon are long-term options in the desert. Bradford inked a one-year, $20MM deal with Arizona earlier this year, while Glennon signed a two-year pact. Mayfield, if selected by the Cardinals, likely wouldn’t play immediately given the presence of Bradford, but he would set the club up for years to come.
Jets Meet With DL Frostee Rucker
The Jets recently hosted defensive lineman Frostee Rucker on a free agent visit, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Rucker would be a logical fit for the Jets since he played under Todd Bowles in Arizona. 
Rucker, 35 in September, profiles as a potential low-cost addition for Gang Green. Last year, he re-upped with the Cardinals on a one-year deal worth less than $1.1MM.
Earlier this month, Bowles signed another former Cardinals pupil in linebacker Kevin Minter. Minter is one of several new linebackers in New York – along with Avery Williamson, Kevin Pierre-Louis, Brandon Copeland, Neville Hewitt, and Micah Awe – but the Jets have yet to do much along the defensive line. Rucker, who spent time on the interior and at defensive end last year, could serve as a versatile backup in the Jets’ 3-4 scheme.
In other Jets news, longtime center Nick Mangold announced his retirement on Tuesday.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/16/18
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Beau Sandland
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: LS Scott Daly
Los Angeles Rams
- Re-Signed: OT Cornelius Lucas
Latest On Dez Bryant
There are four teams that “some believe could show varying levels of interest” in wideout Dez Bryant, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). This grouping includes the Cardinals, Ravens, Bills, and Packers.
The reporter notes that Arizona’s main issue is related to money, as the team is sitting with little cap room. Kent Somers of AZCentral Sports echoes that sentiment (via Twitter), saying the Cardinals won’t pursue Bryant unless he’s willing to take a lesser contract. On the flip side, Schefter observes that the Ravens still have plenty of space, even after having signed receiver Michael Crabtree. Meanwhile, the Packers could be looking for a big-play wideout to replace Jordy Nelson, while the Bills could be looking for a dynamic receiver to pair with Kelvin Benjamin.
The three-time Pro Bowler was released by Dallas yesterday. No teams have definitively been connected to the 29-year-old, although Bryant indicated that he’d like to play for one of the Cowboys’ NFC East foes.
Let’s take a look at some other notes pertaining to the NFL’s newest star free agent…
- ESPN’s Mike Triplett believes the Saints could be a “dark horse contender” for Bryant. New Orleans has focused on improving their receiving core, but they missed out on offseason targets like Nelson and tight end Jimmy Graham. The Saints aren’t armed with a lot of salary cap space, so they’re presumably in a similar situation to the Cardinals. However, there’s no denying that Bryant would provide Drew Brees with another impressive target.
- Bryant was under the impression that some of his teammates and coaches had it out for him, and he believes the lack of support ultimately played a role in his release. “I’m not here to bash anybody, but they know, man,” Bryant told Jane Slater of NFL Network (via Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com). “They know. They know. The way this whole situation got handled, I felt like I asked some of them to be a man about some of the situations a long time ago, and they couldn’t…I won’t put no names out, but they know, and I want them to know on this air I know. I’ll shoot them a text message and let them know. Little do they know is they can wear that ‘C’ [for captain] all they want to, but in that locker room, they know who they run and they talk to. They know who they communicate with. Everybody know where the real love is at, and I’m not throwing anybody under the bus, but that’s the difference between me and them.” Williams notes that last season’s captains were Jason Witten, Dak Prescott, Dan Bailey, Tyrone Crawford, Sean Lee and Orlando Scandrick.
- Meanwhile, ESPN.com’s Todd Archer attributes Bryant’s release to “his falling production and “fiery” personality.” As the reporter notes, the “cracks in the relationship” started earlier this offseason, when Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones criticized the receiver’s sideline outbursts. When you couple the attitude with a drop in production, Archer says organizations will have “a difficult time looking the other way.”
Wilks: Josh Bynes Viable MLB Starter
- Cardinals linebacker Josh Bynes received $1.25MM in guaranteed money via his latest deal with the team, Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic notes. Despite a new coaching staff coming in and the Cards set to turn to a 4-3 setup, Bynes signed to stay in Arizona on a three-year deal. The base value of that contract is $5.575MM, per OverTheCap, but it could max out at close to $10MM. Bynes started 19 games for the Lions between the 2015 and ’16 seasons and was a Cardinals starter in just one 2017 contest. But Steve Wilks sees the 28-year-old former UDFA as a viable candidate to start at middle linebacker.
Benson Mayowa To Visit Cardinals
A part-time starter for the Cowboys over the past two seasons, Benson Mayowa will make a trip to Arizona to meet with the Cardinals, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
The Cardinals met with UFA Connor Barwin this week as well and will explore a Mayowa free agency add as well. Mayowa has been a much-studied defender on this year’s market, having met with the Redskins, Colts and Titans last month. Meetings with the Jets and Seahawks were also reported to have taken place during free agency’s initial days.
Mayowa has played five seasons — with the Seahawks, Raiders and Cowboys — but won’t turn 27 until August. While three of those five slates have included just one sack, he enjoyed a strong six-sack showing with the 2016 Cowboys.
The Cards are moving from a 3-4 look to a 4-3 under Steve Wilks and Al Holcomb, both of whom oversaw parts of the Panthers’ 4-3 look over the past several years. Mayowa has played as a 4-3 end throughout his NFL career.
Cardinals Cut Center Max Tuerk
Max Tuerk‘s time in Arizona has come to an end. On Thursday, the Cardinals announced that the offensive lineman has been released from his contract. 
Tuerk, a third round pick of the Chargers in 2016, signed with the Cardinals in November. He played in just one game, a 23-0 romp over the Giants in December.
In 2016, injuries kept Tuerk off of the field. Last season, he missed the first four games of the year after violating the leagueâs PED policy The Chargers waived him before he was eligible to return and later stashed him on the practice squad. Curious about his potential and in need of offensive line depth, the Cardinals swooped in.
Tuerk was a standout at USC where he played guard, tackle, and center. His versatility should allow him to find another opportunity, but his injury and suspension history may hurt his market.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/11/18
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Bryce Williams
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived with non-football injury designation: DL Taniela Tupou
Seattle Seahawks
- Re-signed: DT Quinton Jefferson (ERFA)
NFL Draft Rumors: Patriots, Key, 49ers
After losing Nate Solder in free agency, the Patriots are on the lookout for offensive tackle help. With that in mind, the Patriots hosted Texas tackle Connor Williams on a visit on Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Thanks to the Brandin Cooks trade earlier this offseason, the Pats are armed with two picks late in the first round. Williams could be available when the Pats are called to the podium at No. 23, though the league-wide need for tackles could result in the 6’6″ lineman going higher.
Here’s the latest batch of NFL draft news:
- LSU outside linebacker/defensive end Arden Key worked out for the 49ers on Wednesday and will move on to the Raiders on Thursday, Rapoport tweets.
- South Dakota State tight end Dallas Goedert, who could be the first tight end to come off of the board, visited the Dolphins on Wednesday, Rapoport tweets. Miami is reportedly high on him, but he has also met with the Seahawks, Chargers, and Lions, according to Rapoport. As previously reported, the Vikings met with Goedert last week.
- Cornerback Isaiah Oliver has had workouts/visits with the Eagles, Falcons, Bears, Texans, 49ers, Cardinals, Panthers, Patriots, Saints, Broncos, and Cowboys, sources tell Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). Miller personally believes that he would be a great fit for Arizona. NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah has Oliver ranked as the 36th best prospect in this year’s draft and it would be no surprise to see him go in the first round.
- Georgia running back Nick Chubb will visit with the Buccaneers on Wednesday, according to Josh Norris of NBC Sports (on Twitter). Chubb has been lauded for his power and ability to run on the inside and figures to be a second round pick.
- The Lions hosted Auburn running back Kerryon Johnson for a visit on Tuesday, Rapoport tweets. Johnson was recently bumped from Jeremiah’s top 50 but should still garner consideration in the second round.
Brice Butler On Signing With Cards
Former Cowboys wide receiver Brice Butler says he signed with the Cardinals in part because of the presence of new quarterback Sam Bradford.