Cardinals Notes: Ellington, Rucker
- Frostee Rucker may follow Ellington in re-signing with the Cardinals, as Somers tweets he “wouldn’t be surprised” if Rucker is the next player to land a new contract with Arizona. Rucker, 33, appeared in 13 games (one start) with the Cards in 2016, posting 13 tackles and grading as the league’s No. 96 interior player among 127 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. Rucker earned nearly $1.4MM last year under the terms of an extension he agreed to in 2015.
- After agreeing to a new deal with the Cardinals, Andre Ellington may be playing more wide receiver than running back in 2017, per Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (Twitter link). Ellington will spend time at both positions, according to Somers, but Arizona wants to see what the 28-year-old can do at wideout. While he posted 85 receptions during his first two years in the league, Ellington has only managed 27 catches from 2015-16.
- Frostee Rucker may follow Ellington in re-signing with the Cardinals, as Somers tweets he “wouldn’t be surprised” if Rucker is the next player to land a new contract with Arizona. Rucker, 33, appeared in 13 games (one start) with the Cards in 2016, posting 13 tackles and grading as the league’s No. 96 interior player among 127 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. Rucker earned nearly $1.4MM last year under the terms of an extension he agreed to in 2015.
Cardinals Sign Jarvis Jones
The Cardinals have signed linebacker Jarvis Jones to a one-year deal, the club announced today. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported earlier today (Twitter link) that Jones was expected to sign with Arizona.
Jones joins the Cardinals hours after the team lost outside linebacker Alex Okafor to the Saints. Having already seen veteran defender Calais Campbell sign with the Jaguars, Arizona is now seeking to rebuild an edge rush that ranked third in adjusted sack rate in 2016. Chandler Jones (no relation to Jarvis) has already been extended on a hefty contract, and now Jarvis Jones will add another element to the pass rush.
Selected 13th overall in 2013, Jones has only posted six sacks in four NFL seasons. He recorded a career-high 43 tackles in 2016, however, and started nine games for the Steelers, playing on slightly less than half of the club’s defensive snaps. While he’s not a pure pass rusher, Jones is still a solid run defender, and graded as Pro Football Focus‘ No. 49 edge player last year in large part due to his stoutness against opposing rushing attacks.
The Rams were hoping to meet with Jones, but Arizona did not let him leave without a deal. The Rams were said to be “very intrigued” by the fifth-year pass-rusher.
Kevin Minter To Visit Bengals
Cardinals’ free agent linebacker Kevin Minter, is scheduled to visit the Bengals on Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Minter is currently visiting with the Colts. 
The Colts’ powwow was Minter’s first free agent visit, so a trip to Cincinnati would mark his second, assuming he doesn’t first strike a deal with Indianapolis. I had Minter ranked No. 22 on my Top 50 rundown of this year’s free agents, but the market for top linebackers has been slow to develop. In terms of ability, Minter was our No. 3 ranked available linebacker, behind only Dont’a Hightower and Zach Brown. Both AFC East standouts remain in limbo.
Minter, 26, totaled 81 tackles and 3.5 sacks for the Cardinals last season. Arizona has replaced outside linebacker Alex Okafor with Jarvis Jones, but they would probably like to keep Minter if they can afford him.
Cardinals Re-Sign RB Andre Ellington
The Cardinals have re-signed running back Andre Ellington, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). We had Ellington ranked as one of the 15 best free agent running backs this year. 
Ellington, 28, was once the Cardinals’ primary running back and thought to be the future at the position. However, he struggled to stay healthy while David Johnson and Chris Johnson leapfrogged him in the pecking order. Right now, it’s not clear if CJ2K will be back in Arizona, so Ellington may have the No. 2 RB spot if the team does not add another impact runner in free agency or the draft.
Last year, Ellington appeared in every regular season game but had only 34 carries for 96 yards. He added 12 catches for 85 yards.
Colts To Meet With LB Kevin Minter
Free agent linebacker Kevin Minter is taking a visit to Indianapolis to meet with the Colts, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Surprisingly, this marks the first known free agent visit for the Cardinals free agent.
Minter was one of several high-profile free agents for Arizona this offseason. I had Minter ranked No. 22 on my Top 50 rundown of this year’s free agents, a list based on potential earning power. With relatively little buzz in the first week of free agency, it’s possible that he’ll fall short of fiscal expectations. In terms of ability, Minter was our third-ranked linebacker, behind only Dont’a Hightower and Zach Brown.
The Colts have already gotten to work on remodeling their front seven. Late last week, the Colts inked former intra-divisional rival John Simon to a three-year deal with a base value of $13.5MM. Hours later, they snagged former Patriot Jabaal Sheard, who could slot in at either linebacker or defensive end. Linebacker Erik Walden, meanwhile, is making the free agent rounds and could wind up signing elsewhere – perhaps with the rival Titans.
Last year, he racked up 81 total tackles and 3.5 sacks in 16 games.
Contract Details: Jones, Gresham, Church
Let’s take a look at the details of some recently-signed contracts:
- Barry Church, S (Jaguars): Four years, $21.6MM. $12MM fully guaranteed. Will earn $7.5MM in 2017 (Twitter link via Adam Caplan of ESPN.com).
- Phil Dawson, K (Cardinals): Two years, $6MM. $1.5MM guaranteed. $1MM signing bonus. $100K Pro Bowl incentive (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle).
- Anthony Fasano, TE (Dolphins): One year, $2.75MM. $1.25MM guaranteed. $1.25MM signing bonus (Link via Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com).
- Marquise Goodwin, WR (49ers): Two years, $6MM. $4.45MM guaranteed. $2.5MM signing bonus (Link via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com).
- Jermaine Gresham, TE (Cardinals): Four years, $28MM. $13MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of USA Today).
- Chandler Jones, LB (Cardinals): Five years, $82.5MM. $22MM guaranteed. $15MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe).
- Jordan Poyer, S (Bills): Four years, $13MM. $6MM guaranteed. $3.5MM signing bonus (Link via Rodak).
- J.J. Wilcox, S (Buccaneers): Two years, $6.5MM. $3.125MM guaranteed. $1MM available via incentives (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Paul Worrilow, LB (Lions): One year, $3MM. $2.75MM guaranteed. $750K guaranteed. $1MM available via incentives (Twitter link via Wilson).
Cardinals Host Jarvis Jones On Visit
- Steelers free agent linebacker Jarvis Jones is visiting today with the Cardinals, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The Steelers remain interested, however, and the two sides are still in discussions. We had Jones ranked as one of the fifteen best edge defenders heading into the opening of free agency last week. The former first-round pick hasn’t justified his high selection in the draft, but he has been pretty solid against the run.
- Cardinals free agent outside linebacker Alex Okafor is visiting the Saints today, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Okafor played through a painful torn bicep injury last season.
Cardinals Prioritizing Compensation Picks
- The Cardinals have been prioritizing compensatory picks when it comes to “losing and signing new free agents,” tweets Mike Jurecki of FoxSports910, adding that the organization is looking to build via the draft. Nick Korte of OverTheCap.com predicts the team will get three extra picks following the departures of Calais Campbell, Tony Jefferson, and Marcus Cooper.
[SOURCE LINK]
Cardinals Offered Four Years, $24MM For Jefferson; Details On Bethea, Shipley Contracts
- We learned earlier today that Tony Jefferson‘s new deal with the Ravens will pay him up to $37MM over four years. We also heard reports in recent days that the Browns and possibly the Jets offered him slightly more money, but that he spurned those offers to sign with Baltimore. As Andy Benoit of TheMMQB writes in a detailed piece on Jefferson’s free agent journey, Jefferson’s former team, the Cardinals, made him an initial “low-ball” offer of three years, $12MM, before upping their proposal to four years and $24MM, still well short of the winning bid.
- Mike Jurecki of FoxSports910 passes along some contract details on two of the Cardinals‘ recent signings (Twitter links). Jurecki reports that safety Antoine Bethea‘s new three-year deal will pay him yearly base salaries of $2MM, $3MM, and $3MM, while A.Q. Shipley‘s new two-year pact is worth a total of $3.5MM with base salaries of $775K and $1.5MM, $725K in guarantees, and $250K in roster bonuses for 2017 and 2018.
Lions Sign TE Darren Fells
Darren Fells was apparently impressed by his visit to Detroit yesterday. NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo reports (via Twitter) that the Lions have signed the tight end to a one-year deal worth $1.5MM.
The 30-year-old was non-tendered by Arizona earlier this week, and it was apparent that his tenure with the team was over following their signing of tight end Jermaine Gresham.
Other than a brief stint with the Seahawks, Fells had spent his entire career with the Cardinals. The former undrafted free agent ultimately played in 38 games (24 starts) for Arizona, hauling in 40 catches for 536 yards and four touchdowns. This past season, the tight end caught 14 passes for 154 yards and one touchdown.
The 30-year-old will certainly provide the Lions with some depth, as the team was only rostering tight ends Eric Ebron and Cole Wick. Fells will presumably be relied on as a blocker.