AZCardinals.com’s Darren Urban: Connections a big part of free agent pickups for the Arizona Cardinals

If you’re a free agent tight end, and you’ve got an opportunity to play with an elite quarterback who statistics show loves to throw to tight ends, wouldn’t you jump at that opportunity?

That’s not what Jermaine Gresham did last week when he agreed to terms with the Cardinals over interest from the Packers and the Saints.

AZCardinals.com beat writer Darren Urban told Doug and Wolf on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM that the fact that Gresham played one year with Carson Palmer made all the difference.

Gresham is reuniting with his rookie season quarterback in Palmer — who connected with a him for 52 catches, 471 yards and four touchdowns.

“If you’re trying to get a fresh start, and you’re trying to prove it on a one-year deal and get something out of it, playing with a quarterback you at least have some familiarity with, I think is a big deal,” Urban said.

Urban added the success of other players coming in on one-year deals was a big selling point for the Cards.

“If you’re Steve Keim, I’m selling hard that if you come here on a one-year deal, multiple guys have shown it’s going to pay off for them on the other end,” he said. “Whether you’re Karlos Dansby or Antonio Cromartie, any of these guys are having good years when they’re coming in on these one-year deals. You’re going to get the playing time and it’s going to pay off for you.”

Urban also speculates that another past connection could turn into an addition for the Cardinals.

“It would be spitballing at this point, and purely spitballing, but I know at one point I was wondering about Dwight Freeney, a guy Bruce Arians knows from his years at the Colts,” he said. “He’s still out there and might be able to give you some pass rush off the edge.”

Freeney’s last year in Indianapolis was the year Arians was at the helm. The seven-time Pro-Bowler had 310 career tackles and 44 forced fumbles.

Urban adds that could probably only happen if they find they need to fill some spots during or after training camp.

Training camp, by the way, gets started Saturday.