Before I begin this, I want to put out there that these guys are depth guys mainly. I don't expect all of these guys to play significant snaps, but they're definitely guys that won't be highly sought after.
Josh McCown (QB)- We all know his story, well at least those of you who were around while he was here. McCown came back to the NFL this year after a two year hiatus. What McCown did this year was more than astounding... It was simply perfect. Arizona is a team that won't be looking for a quarterback, but McCown could be an interesting look. He filled in eight games, starting five, for an injured Jay Cutler, and put together a performance that had he started at 16 games, would have been a 48 touchdown and three interception season.
He is far from a viable starting quarterback, one year of success does not simply wash away 10 years of mediocrity. But if Palmer were to somehow go down with an injury, I have full faith in McCown's capability to lead the team until Palmer's return.
Jonathan Grimes (RB)- Grimes has played only 11 games since entering the NFL as an UDFA in 2012. He spent his rookie season on three different rosters, New York, Houston, and Jacksonville. He found his place in Houston this year, albeit in a supporting role for the injured Ben Tate in Week 16, and then as the starter in Week 17.
In 2012 for the Jets, he carried the ball only twice for six yards. This season he carried 21 times for 73 yards, and a single touchdown. 16 of those carries were in week 17, to go along with his touchdown and 50 yards.
He's 5'10 and 209 pounds, compared to Andre Ellington who is 5'9 199 pounds. Grimes can be a guy to carry in between the tackles, and could help push Taylor for the short distance/goal line back.
Marc Mariani (WR)- Mariani is less here to resolve our potential WR shortage, and more so our kick return and punt return duties. Mariani was a 7th round selection for the Titans in 2010 and made an immediate impact on the titans return game. He returned 60 kicks for 1530 yards and a touchdown on kickoffs, and 27 punts for 329 yards and touchdown in 2010. In 2011 more of the same was expected.
His kickoffs numbers declined in 2011, from 1530 to 749 and no touchdowns. His punt numbers stayed consistent, as he scored another touchdown.
However... He spent the 2012 and 2013 season on IR. In 2012 he broke his ankle in the preseason. The team he broke it against? Arizona. The injury was unavoidable.
In 2013, he suffered a shoulder injury in training camp, and that cut his season short before it even began.
With a new regime he seems like a likely candidate to not gain a second look from Coach Whisenhunt, and much of the league will look past him as injury prone. He has massive upside, and two seasons of resting his broken ankle, should mean it's back to 100%.
Clay Harbor (TE)- Harbor was a 2010 4th round draft selection by the Philadelphia Eagles. In 2010 he caught nine passes, in nine games for 72 yards and a touchdown.
In 2011 he caught 13 passes in three starts for 163 yards and one touchdown.
In 2012, he caught 25 passes in nine starts for 186 yards and two touchdowns.
In 2013, he caught 24 passes in seven starts for 292 yards and two touchdowns.
Now, you may be asking "Why did he just sound so monotone?" To be frank, I don't know either. But it serves the purpose that his career stats have improved every year. He's 6'3 and 255 pounds. He can be a solid blocker and a redzone threat for this team that desperately needs something, anything, from a tight end unit that has tremendous talent, but sub-par play.
What say you ROTB best and brightest? Any other players you would look at? Free agency opens in just a little over three weeks, so we still have plenty of time to be at each others throats over who we should and should not sign.