Cardinals See Mixed Reviews on Free Agency
ARIZONA -- So far, so good for the Arizona Cardinals in free agency.
While the team hasn't nabbed any All-Pro players or guys that will immediately sell jerseys, the front office has ensured their money's been well spent on plugging holes and upgrading a roster that desperately needs it.
While not overly impressed, three different outlets gave their opinions on Arizona's initial haul of fresh faces with grades attached:
Pro Football Focus: C
Brad Spielberger: "Jones brings a high motor and was the Bears’ Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee in 2023, always quick to talk some trash and energize the defense. Nonetheless, this payday dramatically outpaces his down-to-down production. He does have some occasional splash plays that illustrate what made him a Day 2 draft pick, but this is probably the deal we view as the most player-friendly signing so far this offseason.
"With the added and important context that there were virtually zero free-agent options at cornerback not nearing 30 years old, it makes sense that Murphy-Bunting was able to cash in big time. The former No. 39 overall pick has good size at 6-foot and 195 pounds, and he recorded four interceptions to go along with nine more pass breakups over the past two seasons. Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon used to coach defensive backs, so he’ll try to tap into Murphy-Bunting's physical gifts in his third stop.
"Nichols is a rock-solid player on the interior who can contribute on all three downs, and he has some wiggle to get upfield as a pass rusher, with a low center of gravity that helps him weaponize his undersized frame. Arizona needs all the help it can get along the defensive line, and Nichols is a good start."
Pro Football Network: B-
Dallas Robinson: "Swapping out the injured Humphries for the younger Williams probably makes sense, especially since the Cardinals can shift 2023 first-round pick Paris Johnson Jr. to left tackle. Arizona’s offensive line was already underrated and improves with Williams on the right side.
"Desperate for cornerbacks, the Cards gave Bunting a three-year, $25.5 million deal, which feels like a significant overpay after he signed with the Tennessee Titans for one year and $3.5 million last offseason. Jones and Nichols are rotational pieces, and Arizona simply needed bodies up front."
CBS Sports: C
Garrett Podell: "The Arizona Cardinals entered the first day of the NFL's legal tampering period flush with money to spend, $56.6 million in cap room, the fifth-most in the NFL, but they didn't make any major moves. Re-upping starting left guard Trystan Colon, whose 69.2 Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade ranked as the 18th-best in the NFL among guards with at least 100 offensive snaps, is an unspectacular but solid move.
"The addition of defensive tackle Justin Jones, 28-years-old on Aug. 28, who paced the 2023 Chicago Bears in quarterback hits (17) and tackles for loss (10) is an affordable pact to upgrade along the line of scrimmage. Arizona continued to reinforce its defense, head coach Jonathan Gannon's side of the ball, with deals for linebacker Mack Wilson and cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting. Murphy-Bunting registered a 62.4 passer rating as the primary defender in coverage, the 17th-best in the league among 71 players with at least 70 passes thrown their way. Williams comes to Arizona after having an up-and-down tenure in Cincinnati."
