Free Agents To Know After The 2017 NFL Draft

Filling out your roster through the NFL Draft is paramount in having team success both short and long term. With that said, every team is going to have a bust here and there and not every hole on the roster is able to be filled as a result of that. That is where free agency can come in handy.

The Arizona Cardinals are one of those teams that has holes that a rookie may not be able to fill. So, if they need to sign a free agent, who could one of those guys be? Let's take a look at some names that could potentially be a fit in the desert.

Jared Odrick- Odrick signed a mega deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars like every defensive end on the downside of their career does and, naturally, he couldn't live up to the big number he was getting paid. But that doesn't mean he can't still be an effective player. The Cardinals are fairly young along the defensive line outside of Frostee Rucker. With Robert Nkemdiche and Rodney Gunter being unknowns, Odrick could be a stabilizing force that is still able to produce.

Jay Cutler- Let me hear it, Cardinals fans! But first, let me get my 2 cents in. I am not a Drew Stanton fan. There is no upside to having him as your backup quarterback because he isn't going to be an adequate replacement for Carson Palmer once he retires and I am not convinced he is even an adequate backup as is. That's where Cutler comes in. He has upside that Stanton doesn't and, at this point, he is just looking for a place to play. If he can recreate even a sliver of the magic he had back when the Bears signed him to a massive extension, he would be an upgrade at the backup quarterback position. Then, if the Cardinals draft someone, you have Palmer, Cutler and the draftee.

Chris Johnson- I think the Cardinals have a goal of finding a backup for star back David Johnson in the draft. Right now, that spot is completely vacant. Stepfan Taylor is a free agent, Andre Ellington is now a wide receiver and Kerwynn Williams is a guy that the team seems to have marginal trust in. Chris Johnson is far and away the best pass protector of the group and would provide veteran dependence in the backfield.

Jahri Evans- Granted, Evans may be a name more than anything else at this point, but the Cardinals may want to look at a veteran guard to add to the roster. The plan right now is to have Evan Boehm man the right guard position between Jared Veldheer and A.Q. Shipley. But having a veteran compete for the job that could come in for cheap may be a good backup plan.

What are your thoughts, Cardinals fans? Are there any free agents out there that could help the team after the draft is over?