Arizona Cardinals: Top needs after big free agency moves
By Matt Murray
Cornerback continues to be the Arizona Cardinals’ one glaring need.
It seems like a reoccurring problem every year the Arizona Cardinals are in need of a cornerback. Generally, this statement is finished with opposite Patrick Peterson but he was lost in free agency and left a gaping hole in the Cardinals roster. They quickly filled one position with the addition of Malcolm Butler and with third-year slot corner Byron Murphy emerging in year two the Cardinals seem to be one piece away again.
Internal Options
The Cardinals’ depth at cornerback is very limited with Butler and Murphy leading the room and Robert Alford coming back off two injury-ridden seasons. Alford was originally brought in to play corner opposite of Patrick Peterson and was seen as a great signing but nothing has gone the way anyone would have planned since then. Alford was lost to a broken leg in 2019 and a torn pec in 2020 playing zero snaps since signing with the Cardinals two years ago.
After these top three options, the Cardinals only have two second-year undrafted free agents on the roster. Jace Whittaker impressed the Cardinals during the 2020 preseason and moved quickly past multiple players on the depth chart and with the help of multiple injuries he found himself on the field starting week 9.
This game put an emphasis on his size and his abilities were challenged posting just a 51.3 PFF grade. The second undrafted free agent, Picasso Nelson, was originally signed by Jacksonville and has not yet taken a snap in the NFL.
External Options
The obvious answer is to go to the draft with a talented group of 2021 cornerbacks. The first round has talented cornerbacks that should be scattered throughout the first round including Jaycee Horn, Patrick Surtain II, and Caleb Farley.
The fear is that Horn and Surtain may be gone by the time the Cardinals pick at 16 and Farley is coming off a recent back surgery that may not have him back at practice before training camp. With the way Vance Joseph likes to use his defensive rookies, Farley doesn’t seem like a good fit for a team that seems locked in for a run in 2021.
Almost every free agent cornerback with starting potential has been signed however there are a couple of options remaining. Jason McCourty is coming off one of his worst years as a pro however he has recorded seven years with PFF grades over 74 in his 11-year career. He would be a great mentor for a secondary that will have multiple young pieces entering 2021.
Personally, I think Byron Murphy is best left inside, however, if the Cardinals believe he could make the move outside they could bring in a veteran like Brian Poole or Darqueeze Dennard to solidify the group as well.
The final option and potentially the best option available is Steven Nelson. Released recently by the Steelers, Nelson missed the majority of the free agency period and the opportunity to make a big payday. The Cardinals could offer him a one-year prove-it deal for 2021 with interest seemingly low this late in the offseason.