Grading Cardinals New Free Agent Signings
ARIZONA -- The Arizona Cardinals have made a handful of moves so far in free agency. While there hasn't been a massive splash signing yet, general manager Monti Ossenfort's moves have been intentional--meant to help fill roster holes with a higher tier or talent and "raise the floor" of one of the most talent-needy rosters in the NFL.
With a roster this bare, an influx of outside talent was necessary. No, Ossenfort didn't land the big fish like Christian Wilkins or Robert Hunt (with their respective $100 million contracts), but he did bring in plenty of defensive personnel in day one of free agency.
CB Sean Murphy-Bunting: 3 years, $25.5 million, $17.4 million guaranteed
Grade: B+
Yes, I know the contract number will scare off plenty, as will his dismal 2023 numbers.
But the 26-year-old corner posted an 80.9 coverage grade in 2022, and was a pivotal part of Tampa Bay's secondary in their Super Bowl run. He also brings outside size and physicality to Arizona, with a 6-foot, 194-pound frame.
He did post a 54.4 coverage grade last season, allowing 9.3 yards per target and a 91.8 passer rating when targeted, but still only allowed a 63.8% completion rate on his most targets since 2020. He's coming off back-to-back sub 60% completion years, and allowed a career-low 59.6 passer rating last season
With most other coaching staffs, this would probably be in the C range, but head coach Jonathan Gannon's ability to consistently do more with less with defensive backs make him a prime candidate to return closer to his elite 2022 form than anything else.
Considering he's only guaranteed somewhere in the $5.8 million range per year, this isn't as big an overpay as it might seem, and he has high upside as a high-level CB2.
DT Bilal Nichols: 3 years, $21 million, $14.4 million guaranteed
Grade: B-
Nichols isn't the name many expected the Cardinals to land. Is it a little bit of a letdown compared to some of the huge names out there? Yes, is it still a solid signing with some good value attached? Yes.
Nichols has some ugly PFF grades, but does provide some beef to the interior D-line. He measures in at 6-foot-3, 313 pounds, but also boasts plus speed. Add that to the fact that the veteran defensive tackle has not missed a single game since 2019, and the fact that he's only getting about $4.8 million a year guaranteed, this is a guy who will play in Gannon's rotational front seven, and will be both consistently available and an instant upgrade.
Beggars can't be choosers. Almost anyone is an upgrade over Arizona's weak defensive line unit, and the veteran has put forward a handful of solid seasons. He doesn't profile much as a volume sack guy, but he has logged 40 or more tackles in his last four seasons, as well as double digit QB pressures in four of his six seasons. At only 27 years old, this is good depth with upside for a decently small contract.
DT Justin Jones: 3 years, $30.1 million, $19.75 million guaranteed
Grade: C+
It's a bit strange to see a player of the same age, similar size and athleticism, and similar grades over the last few seasons get this much more money than a guy like Nichols.
From a pure value standpoint, this deal is worse than the Nichols move. That being said, he provides another dimension to the same position of need. As we've mentioned before, Gannon likes to run rotations with his D-line, so Jones will look to serve more of a specific role.
Jones profiles a little better than Nichols as a pass rusher, with 4.5 sacks in 2023 and 22 QB pressures. That number is a bit of an outlier, however, as he generally hovered at or below about 10 pressures per season.
Jones is also 27, is 6-foot-3, 309 pounds with high athleticism and also has a track record of health, starting every game for the last two seasons. Notice a trend here?
Where the concern lies is in his disparity in run defense versus pass-rushing.
Sure, PFF grades aren't everything, but the Cardinals are in desperate need of a guy who can truly stuff the run. Jones has posted a sub-60 run defense grade every year since his stellar 2020, and has graded well below 50 in his previous two seasons.
The truth is, as a role player, Jones provides good value, but to pay nearly $10 million more for a comparable player to Nichols who won't provide much other than situational value makes this deal a little less valuable. It's still solid depth with decently high upside, and another instant upgrade to a talent-free D-line, but a question mark about the versatility of a potential $30 million player makes this deal a little more of a risk.
LB Mack Wilson: 3 years, $15 million, $12.75 guaranteed
Grade: A-
"Who?" you might ask.
Mack Wilson hasn't exactly been a household name, or even a staple of New England's defense, but the linebacker is a rising stud with very high upside. Although only starting one game in 2023, he racked up 3.5 sacks and 11 pressures. Wilson excelled as a coverage linebacker last season with an 86.9 grade in that category.
He graded out well as a whole, with an 80.8 overall grade, but with proficiency in stopping the run and rushing the passer as well. He's a threat off the edge, and a guy who can hold his own in the open field.
At 26 years old, he's a big, physical, athletic linebacker who can play in a variety of spots and produce anywhere. Given the chance to actually start more games, his numbers can only climb higher, and he's also rarely hurt, playing in every game for the last two seasons.
For just $4.25 million guaranteed a year, this is a deal with immense upside. At worst, he backs up Kyzir White and Krys Barnes as an off-ball linebacker. At best, he emerges as a potential stud edge rusher while still sporting plus run defense and coverage tools.
His overall impact as a player might not warrant an A grade, but this is a very smart deal contextually. There's very little risk and high upside on a cheap deal, with true versatility than Gannon will love.
The Cardinals will still need to add a few pieces. Another solid CB, a legit EDGE threat and a left guard are definitely needed to round out this off-season, but some of that could come through the draft.
So far, Ossenfort's deals are mostly decent value, filling specific holes with guys who won't spend the year on IR, for a great deal less than any of the big name guys would cost.
Has it been perfect? No, but it's been a very intelligent, methodical approach to free agency thus far, and the Cardinals were a great deal more than one stud player away from contention.
