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As they say ‘familiarity breeds contempt” —- however when it comes to adding key free agents, familiarity can breed extra interest.
There is a double advantage of signing UFAs within one’s own division —- not only would the Cardinals be acquiring players they are very familiar with, they would be weakening their division rivals and would be able to profit from the intel they would bring about their former teams and the inner workings of their offensive and defensive systems.
Last night as a guest on the ROTB Podcast with Blake Murphy and John Venerable, I expressed my hope that the Cardinals target UFAs in their mid 20s who are heading into their primes. Thus, here are my top NFC West UFAs whom I am hoping the Cardinals can sign to long-term deals:
ARI
SAM OLB Haason Reddick—-26 (6-1, 235)—-72.8 STARTER
OLB Dennis Gardeck—-26 (6-0, 232)—-89.6 NICKEL RUSHER, STs ACE
S Charles Washington—-28 (5-10, 192)—-89.0 STs ACE, BACKUP S
ILB Tanner Vallejo—-26 (6-1, 230)—-67.0—-STs ACE, STARTER/BACKUP
ILB Ezekiel Turner—-25 (6-2, 214)—-86.4 (STs)—-STs ACE, BACKUP ILB
WR Trent Sherfield—-25 (6-1, 219)—-71.2 (STs)—-STs ACE, BACKUP SLOT WR
TE Dan Arnold—-26 (606, 220)—-61.6—-STARTER
LAR
C Austin Blythe—-29 (6-3, 298)—-70.3—-STARTER
DE Morgan Fox—-27 (6-3, 275)—-57.8—-ROTATION RUSHER (33 QB pressures and 7 sacks)
SF
CB Ahkello Witherspoon—-26 (6-3, 195)—-80.2 STARTER
SEA
CB Shaquill Griffin—-26 (6-0, 198)—-64.6 STARTER
Outside the division: (CAR)
WR Curtis Samuel—-24 (5-11, 195)—-77.0 STARTER SLOT WR
Pair these UFAs with the following draft picks:
Trade: Pick #16 to the Steelers for picks #24 and #55
24. Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa (604, 260)—-STARTER MIKE LB
49. Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina (5-10, 220)—-STARTER
55..Hunter Long, TE, Boston College (6-5, 253)—-STARTER IN 12 PERSONNEL
79. Deonte Brown, G, Alabama (6-3, 338)—-STARTER at RG
143. Keith Taylor, CB, Washington (6-3, 196)—-STs ACE, BACKUP CB
206. Brady White, QB, Memphis (6-2, 215)—-BACKUP QB
How does this plan look to you?