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The writing was on the wall. When the Arizona Cardinals drafted Jonathan Cooper with the seventh overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, he was destined to start, which meant that Adam Snyder was going to be replaced. That writing on the wall quickly became reality, as the Cardinals released him, just one after one season of the five-year contract he was given by the team last offseason.
Snyder struggled in his first season with the Cardinals, first dealing with a nagging elbow injury, and playing poorly. Whether that injury affected him much has not been said, but he was considered by almost all fans as the weakest link on the offensive line (once D'Anthony Batiste was replaced in the starting lineup by Nate Potter) that allowed 58 sacks on the season.
His versatility and association with the successful San Francisco 49ers offensive line were likely big reasons why the Cardinals liked him in free agency. However, he was, even in San Fran, considered the weakest link there, which is why the Niners let him go.
According to Pro Football Focus, he was the fourth worst rated guard in the league. He earned a negative rating in 10 of the 14 games he played.
His versatility, though, came in handy late in the season. The only position on the line he had not played previously was center. When both Lyle Sendlein and Rich Ohrnberger suffered season-ending injuries, Snyder stepped in and started the final three games at center.
Snyder was due to make $2.9 M in 2013 and had a cap hit of $4 M. The move as is does not save any salary cap space, as there would be $4M in dead money. The team, according to Kent Somers, has designated him as a June 1 cut, which allows the team to spread the cap hit over two seasons. They will save $3M in cap space this season, but they will take a $3M hit in 2014.
In addition to releasing Snyder, the Cardinals also parted ways with guard Jeremiah Warren, whom the team signed as a free agent in January.
Remaining from last season at guard is second-year player Senio Kelemete, while the Cards added Cooper and Earl Watford in the draft.
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