The Arizona Cardinals have three players who will be restricted free agents. If the Cardinals tender them they will have the possibility to match any offer another team gives the player and, depending on the type of tender, can receive draft compensation if they let the player sign with the other team.
Based on Over The Cap’s projections, the three tenders will pay a player the following:
- First-round tender: $4.667 million
- Second-round tender: $3.278 million
- Original round tender: $2.144 million
The Cardinals do not use the tenders often. In recent years, they used them on safety Tony Jefferson, receiver Jaron Brown and safety D.J. Swearinger.
Knowing this, what should the Cardinals decide to do with their three pending restricted free agents?
S Charles Washington
Washington is a core special teams player, but there are dozens of players like him in the league. He wouldn’t be anything more than the last or second-to-last safety on the roster. That isn’t necessarily a player a team would want to pay more than $2 million unless he is a Pro Bowl-caliber player.
He is a nice player to have, but the Cardinals shouldn’t tender him. He is certainly worth trying to sign to a deal for less than the tender, but not worth tendering.
CB Kevin Peterson
Peterson started three games and was the Cardinals’ third cornerback for several games. He broke up two passes and had 16 tackles. He did not have an interception. He is by no means a lock for the roster but is a player who could be helpful in 2020. Is he worth more than $2 million? Probably not as the team’s fourth or fifth cornerback.
Don’t expect him to be tendered but he could be re-signed.
K Zane Gonzalez
Gonzalez had a fantastic season and arguably deserves to be a Pro Bowler. While many say the Cardinals should ink him to a long-term deal, the more prudent choice would be to give him an original-round tender and if the market says he is worth more and the Cardinals are willing to pay him, they can match. But because in three seasons he has only had one consistently good one, it would be wise to let him prove it one more year.
Offering anything more than an original-round tender would just be unnecessary and teams aren’t likely going to want to give up a seventh-round pick to overpay Gonzalez so that the Cardinals wouldn’t match the salary.
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