Entering the offseason, it felt like a foregone conclusion that the Arizona Cardinals would go and sign a starting inside linebacker to pair with Jordan Hicks. Haason Reddick didn’t work ou at the position and Joe Walker, who started most of the season, is a player who can be upgraded.
In free agency, players like Cory Littleton, Blake Martinez and Joe Schobert were brought up, but they were not the top target for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals actually landed their No. 1 player, De’Vondre Campbell, who played the last four seasons for the Atlanta Falcons.
“Campbell was our top guy in free agency that we thought we couldn’t get because his money was going to be so bug,” defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said in a video conference with the media this week, “but he came back to us and took a one-year deal just to prove himself.”
He took a one-year deal worth $6 million and worth as much as $8.5 million.
He had 129 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions last season and the Cardinals believe he is an answer to covering tight ends. They were impressed by what they saw when they faced Campbell and the Falcons in 2019.
Hopefully he can produce similar numbers in 2020. The Cardinals’ top choice was a surprise to many, but he might only be here one season. With the selection of Isaiah Simmons in the first round of the draft, Campbell might be setting himself up for a big payday with another team in 2021.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
Ep. 266
Ep.265
