The Arizona Cardinals got great play and not so great play from their edge linebacker position in 2019. As we look ahead to the offseason, let’s look at what is to come. We will look back at how they did, the current roster and what questions are in the offseason.
2019 review
2019 was all about Chandler Jones being great and everyone else being not very good.
Jones set a franchise record with 19 sacks and had eight forced fumbles. He was half a sack short of the league lead and, had he had one more sack, he probably would have been Defensive Player of the Year.
Outside of Jones, the outside linebackers on the roster produced 10 sacks. 5.5 of them came from Terrell Suggs, who started the season with two in the season opener but had only half a sack in the final six games with the Cardinals before he was released. He was a huge disappointment.
Haason Reddick moved to outside linebacker and showed some potential, while Cassius Marsh produced minimally.
The current roster
- Vontarrius Dora: signed through 2020
- Kylie Fitts: signed through 2020
- Chandler Jones: signed through 2021
- Cassius Marsh: unrestricted free agent
- Haason Reddick: signed through 2020
- Brooks Reed: unrestricted free agent
Offseason question: Who will play opposite Chandler Jones in 2020?
Jones is locked in. He is a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro. The other side is full of questions. Can Reddick become a starting-caliber player despite being undersized for the edge?
Will the Cardinals even want to bring back Marsh or Reed?
Will Fitts develop further?
GM Steve Keim mentioned the position opposite Jones is one of the offseason priorities. They will likely bring in a free agent. The problem is at what cost.
A name to potentially watch is Kyler Fackrell. He got pushed into a rotational role with the Green Bay Packers and will be a free agent. He is from Mesa. He had 10 sacks in 2018. He might be the player to bring in for not too much money and compete with Reddick for the starting job, or at least to be a rotational pass rusher.
The Cardinals probably will not look at edge defenders with the No. 8 pick in the draft, but that is a possibility if they trade back. Then, Iowa edge defender A.J. Epenesa comes into play. Utah’s Bradlee Anae has been mocked to them in the second or third rounds.
Don’t expect a big splash in free agency. Don’t expect a premium pick. But if they can find someone who can produce more than Suggs did last year for a contract roughly what they paid him in 2019, that might be the route they take.
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. 258
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