Cardinals Offseason

The Arizona Cardinals were the biggest dissapointment of 2016. A pretty big thing to say considering both of last year's Super Bowl contenders (Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos) missed the playoffs. Denver's excuse: loss of starting quarterback Peyton Manning to retirement. Carolina's excuse: loss of star cornerbacks Josh Norman to Washington and Bene Benwikere to Miami (currently plays for the Cincinnati Bengals). The Cardinals excuse: None. Bruce Arians's squad were the favorites from the NFC to make the Super Bowl. Instead, they missed the playoffs and were good enough at being bad to secure a top 15 pick. Fortunately for Cardinals fans, superstar receiver and face of the franchise for the past 13 years Larry Fitzgerald opted to return for another year along with starting quarterback Carson Palmer. While Arians retained his top offensive duo, lots of work was needed on the defensive side of the ball.

Additions
Haason Reddick LB (Draft)
Reddick will step into a starting role in the Cardinals upgraded linebacker corps as a rookie this year. He has been called one of the best players in the draft and can use his speed to match up well in man coverage with running backs and tight ends. Reddick can also double as pass rusher, although he lacks tremendous strength. Overall, Reddick will join up with Deone Buccanon and Daryl Washington (if he gets reinstated) to roam the middle of the Cardinals defense.

Budda Baker S (Draft)
Baker was a steal in the 2nd round and will replace last year's starter Tony Jefferson who opted for Baltimore in free agency. While Baker will have to outplay Bethea for snaps, he will become one of Arizona's key starters in the next 3 years.

Chad Williams WR (Draft)
While the Cardinals went defense over offense in the first two rounds, Chad Williams is a good selection here. Williams is a dominant wide receiver that could be the next David Johnson (also a 3rd round selection) for the Cardinals if he can bring his intensity to the top level.

Dorian Johnson G (Draft)
Johnson is a great selection by Arians especially with the loss of starter Earl Watford. Johnson will fight for a starting guard spot and could become a staple on an average Cardinals O-Line.

Will Holden T/G (Draft)
Holden will have to develop before he breaks the lineup, but he has the potential to replace aging Jared Veldheer at RT some day.

TJ Logan RB (Draft)
Logan is a talented running back and was a steal in the 5th round. While he may never develop into a top tier running back, Logan will be an above-average rotational back who can give superstar David Johnson some rest.

Johnathon Ford S (Draft)
With a depleted Cardinals secondary, Ford looks to make the roster as a rookie. Most likely though, he will not see the field much as the Bird Gang will have to be patient with his growth.

Phil Dawson K (Free Agency - San Francisco 49ers)
Dawson, 37, is a very reliable kicker and an obvious upgrade from the often inaccurate Chandler Catanzaro. Though he costs more money, Dawson will make extra points a routine process in the desert opposed to a prayer.

Antoine Bethea (Free Agency - San Francisco 49ers)
Bethea has had an exceptional career in Indianapolis and San Francisco, and Cardinal fans hope to see a continuation of his skills despite his old age. Bethea will be the favorite to start at the SS position in 2017 but will have to hold out rookie Budda Baker for that job as the season progresses.

Karlos Dansby LB (Free Agency - Cleveland Browns)
Dansby is the prodigal son of the Cardinals franchise. He's there, he's gone, he's there, he's gone, and he's there again. Dansby's best years have been in Arizona with the biggest play of his career coming at home in the NFC Championship game against Green Bay where he forced an Aaron Rodgers fumble and returned it to the house for an OT win.

Jarvis Jones OLB/DE (Free Agency - Pittsburgh Steelers)
Jones was underwhelming to say the least in the Steel City, but Arians will look to fulfill his potential as he joins the Bird Gang. Jones is a boom or bust signing here as I believe he will record either 5 or less or double-digit sacks in 2017.




Losses
Calais Campbell DE/DT (Free Agency - Jacksonville Jaguars)
Campbell is the most dominant player to have ruled the defensive side of the ball for Arizona since the glory days of Darnell Dockett and Adrian Wilson. Jacksonville, with tons upon tons of cap space, was able to offer a deal Campbell couldn't refuse. With his departure, the talent on the front seven of Arizona has diminished greatly.

Kevin Minter LB (Free Agency - Cincinnati Bengals)
Minter is just one of the many recent defensive LSU successes to thrive in the NFL alongside Patrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu, Morris Claiborne, and others. Minter really progressed in 2016 and played well as an OLB on running downs. Although his pass coverage could use some help, his run-stopping ability is underrated, and he will be a major piece in the Cincy defense. Reddick and Dansby will be called upon to take over at Minter's former position.

Tony Jefferson S (Free Agency - Baltimore Ravens)
Jefferson was a top 3 strong safety last year, and he was rewarded in Baltimore. While the strong safety position has not been a key position for Arians as a coach since he had Antoine Bethea in Indianapolis a few years ago, Jefferson developed into a true superstar in a versatile Cardinals defense. Budda Baker and previously mentioned Antoine Bethea have been called on to replace the young stud.

DJ Swearinger S (Free Agency - Washington Redskins)
Swearinger, like Jefferson, had a massive year in 2016. Most teams counted Swearinger out, but Arians took the risk, and it paid off big time for a struggling Arizona squad. Only signed to a one-year deal, Swearinger walked into free agency looking for a big payday the Cardinals could not afford, especially with the FS position already locked down by Tyrann Mathieu.

Earl Watford G (Free Agency - Jacksonville Jaguars)
Watford is a decent guard who played well for Arizona in 2016. He will help Jacksonville build a new offensive line to protect rookie running back Leonard Fournette and strong-armed quarterback Blake Bortles. Rookies Dorian Johnson and Will Holden will be looked on to fill Watford's open position if they are not beat out by Kaleb Johnson or Cole Toner who are already on the Cardinals roster.

Chandler Catanzaro K (Free Agency - New York Jets)
Catanzaro is the epitome of inconsistency. While many Cardinals fans wanted to wait and see with him last year, Arians has finally sent the bust packing. In a move that might eventually kick the Bird Gang in the butt, Catanzaro will get his chance to develop on a rebuilding Jets roster that is stacking themselves with potential talent. For now, Dawson is a much appreciated upgrade in a loaded offense looking to win now.

Marcus Cooper CB (Free Agency - Chicago Bears)
Cooper excelled last year as a CB2 sharing snaps with veteran Tyvon Branch across from Patrick Peterson. While Cooper is not and never will be a shutdown corner, he can jump on passing routes and his ball skills are fantastic. The Bears will be deeply satisfied with their new ball hawking corner, but might be a little disturbed in his mediocre press coverage. Arians has let the cornerback position slide recently with his 2nd cornerback being called a "failure in progress" by the coach. Fans will look to see a huge increase in quality from the second year man Brandon Williams. Harlan Miller might also see the field some as the Cardinals defensive backs coach look desperately for someone to step in to Cooper's role.

Alex Okafor OLB (Free Agency - New Orleans Saints)
Okafor has always been a decent player in the decent, but he never got much playing time. That will not be an issue in New Orleans as he is the favorite to start at OLB under Sean Payton. While Okafor was a nice rotational pass rusher in Arizona, he was underutilized by Arians so his departure will not hurt the defense too much. Again, Karlos Dansby will be looked upon to step in as an upgrade for Okafor.

All in all, the Cardinals offense is loaded while the defense, although upgraded at linebacker, could use help on the defensive line and secondary. 2017 might be Arians last shot to deliver a ring to the most likely retiring Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald.