Free Agent Primer 2021: Defensive Line

The Cardinals cannonballed into free agency, signing J.J. Watt to a two-year deal. The work isn't done, as GM Steve Keim must fill other holes on the roster this offseason. The new league year begins on Wednesday, March 17, with the legal tampering period opening on Monday, March 15. We will break down each position group as free agency draws near. 

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Free agent primer: Defensive Line

Other free agent primers: CB I WR I LB I TE

Cap hit of players under contract for 2021 (via OverTheCap.com): Jordan Phillips ($12 million); J.J. Watt ($4.9 million); Zach Allen ($1.17 million); Leki Fotu ($973,368); Rashard Lawrence ($951,021); David Parry ($920,000); Michael Dogbe ($850,00).

Scheduled free agents: Corey Peters; Angelo Blackson; Domata Peko Sr..

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NFL insider notes: Cardinals overpaying for J.J. Watt raises eyebrows, one Steelers draft target stands out

There is a mystery being talked about in NFL circles right now. I've been asked the question myself by some personnel execs. I do not have the answer.

It goes a little something like this: Who the hell were the Cardinals bidding against for J.J. Watt? Who else was paying him $14M a year?

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Good question, indeed.

Good for Watt. He did better on the open market than most suspected, but the idea that there were multiple teams throwing offers at him in excess of $15M was simply silly. That market never existed, nor should it have, given the age and injury history of the future first ballot Hall of Famer. That just was not reality. Agent speak on steroids.

Foods

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Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Cardinals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) West division. The team was founded as the Morgan Athletic Club in 1898, and is the oldest continuously run professional football team in the United States. The Cardinals play their home games at State Farm Stadium, which opened in 2006 and is located in the northwestern suburb of Glendale.

The team was established in Chicago in 1898 as an amateur football team and joined the NFL as a charter member on September 17, 1920. Along with the Chicago Bears, the club is one of two NFL charter member franchises still in operation since the league's founding (the Green Bay Packers were an independent team until they joined the NFL a year after its creation in 1921). The club then moved to St. Louis in 1960 and played in that city through 1987 (sometimes referred to locally in St. Louis as the "Football Cardinals", the "Gridbirds" or the "Big Red" to avoid confusion with the Major League Baseball team of the same name). 

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Chandler Jones feels bad for Russell Wilson after Cardinals addition of J.J. Watt

Russell Wilson‘s clamoring for more help along the offensive line in Seattle is only going to be heightened now that the Arizona Cardinals have added J.J. Watt to their defensive line.

Wilson already had to see Aaron Donald twice a season for the last seven years with the Los Angeles Rams. Now Watt is teaming up with standout pass rusher Chandler Jones in Arizona to bring more firepower to the NFC West. 

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JJ Watt stuns NFL with decision to join Cardinals: 'Life is good in Arizona'

JJ Watt is officially a member of the Arizona Cardinals. On Monday, the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year tweeted a photo of himself while lifting weights in a Cardinals shirt.

"source: me," Watt wrote as the caption.

Watt reportedly agreed to a two-year deal worth $31 million, with $23 million guaranteed. He will reunite with former Houston Texans teammate DeAndre Hopkins, who was traded to Arizona last offseason, and Watt will once again work with Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who coached him in Houston.

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Center Nick Martin could be on Arizona Cardinals wish list

Arizona Cardinals offensive line coach/run game coordinator Sean Kugler had some interesting thoughts on the squad’s situation at center this past week. The experienced assistant, who joined the organization back in 2019, has let it be known that a change at the position could be in order. Kugler remarked that “the center position overall needs to take the next step and get better”, and there are fans of the Cardinals who may be in complete agreement with that assessment.

One way that the Cards could address that issue is through free agency. There are several interesting names who could be available when the signing period gets underway on March 17th. Actually, there’s one particular center who’s eligible to ink a deal with whatever franchise he chooses right now.

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What the Arizona Cardinals must do to contend in NFC West

But let’s not rehash on the hash of what could have been in 2020. The Arizona Cardinals collapsed harder than the 2003 Minnesota Vikings (who they ironically kept out of the playoffs that season) and finished 8-8, missing out on the NFL playoffs.

That said, it’s clear the Cardinals still have their work cut out for them if they want to take the next step and improve upon their 8-8 record. Even worse, they’re playing in the NFL’s toughest division. And compared to the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, and San Francisco 49ers, they’re the weakest link.

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Drama in Seattle should be enjoyed by Arizona Cardinals fans

For the longest time, Arizona Cardinals fans have been relatively at the mercy of Russell Wilson. The 37-34 OT win this past season was Arizona’s first win at home against Seattle since 2012, Wilson’s rookie year. While there have been more road victories for the red birds, not being able to get it done at home has cost them dearly.

The tie in 2016 at home was about the most infuriating game to watch as it ended in a 6-6 tie that is still embarrassing to this day. in 2017, it was the absolutely stupid-playmaking ability of Wilson to connect with an open receiver on a 3rd and 21 after scrambling for what seemed like forever.

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Top 100 players in Arizona Cardinals franchise history: No’s 50 to 41

Not only is the NFL celebrating 100 years so are the Arizona Cardinals. Starting in Chicago then to St. Louis, and then finally landing in the desert in Arizona in 1988.

They’ve now been in the desert 30 of those 100 years. Here we count down from numbers 50-41. # 50 Conrad Dobler

The gritty, hard-nosed offensive line guard spent six seasons with the Cardinals in St. Louis after being drafted in the fifth round of the 1972 draft. He played a total of 10 seasons, four after leaving the Cardinals in a trade.

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Center Nick Martin could be on Arizona Cardinals wish list

Arizona Cardinals offensive line coach/run game coordinator Sean Kugler had some interesting thoughts on the squad’s situation at center this past week. The experienced assistant, who joined the organization back in 2019, has let it be known that a change at the position could be in order. Kugler remarked that “the center position overall needs to take the next step and get better”, and there are fans of the Cardinals who may be in complete agreement with that assessment.

One way that the Cards could address that issue is through free agency. There are several interesting names who could be available when the signing period gets underway on March 17th. Actually, there’s one particular center who’s eligible to ink a deal with whatever franchise he chooses right now.

Read More