Cardinals Named Fit for 'Overlooked' Free Agent
ARIZONA -- The Arizona Cardinals are currently projected to have somewhere around $30 million in effective cap space (which subtracts projected money for the incoming draft class) to spend in free agency.
While a few big names could indeed find their way to the desert, the Cardinals may opt to go bargain shopping as the second year of their rebuild under general manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon progresses.
Bleacher Report recently highlighted a handful of "overlooked" free agents about to hit the market, and the Cardinals were deemed a fit for Miami Dolphins pass-rusher Andrew Van Ginkel.
Cardinals Named Fit for 'Overlooked' Free Agent
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Alex Ballentine: "Andrew Van Ginkel has been a solid rotational pass-rusher for the Miami Dolphins for a few years, but he got the opportunity this season to show that he could be a little more. He took advantage and likely made himself some money along the way.
"The 28-year-old is far from a household name, but he became a key piece for the Dolphins defense when Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips both went down with injuries this season. Pressed into a larger role, Van Ginkel racked up six sacks and 19 quarterback hits while making 11 starts and appearing in all 17 regular-season games.
"Van Ginkel's versatility is what makes him an underrated free-agent target. He isn't just a pass-rusher. He's done well enough in coverage to warrant a spot as a true outside linebacker who can drop back into zones in a 3-4 base set or put his hand in the dirt and get after the quarterback.
"He was targeted 25 times in coverage this season and gave up only 4.7 yards per target.
"Van Ginkel should appeal more to teams that like to blitz and play a 3-4 base alignment, but his ability to rush the passer could make him appealing even for teams that don't fit that mold.
"The Arizona Cardinals have plenty of cap space and need to add some punch to their pass rush."
Our take: The Cardinals indeed need help in getting to the quarterback, as their 33 team sacks in 2023 ranked third from the bottom in the NFL. It's fair to wonder if Zaven Collins should be utilized as an inside linebacker after the edge experiment failed last season, and though BJ Ojulari and Dennis Gardeck showed some promise, it's never a bad option to add more weapons to the arsenal.
