Cardinals ink free agent cornerback Bene Benwikere
Mar 23, 2018, 2:40 PM | Updated: 3:49 pm
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Bene Benwikere (23) warms up before an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
(AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
The Arizona Cardinals have been looking for help at cornerback since free agency began March 14, and Friday they found some.
Arizona inked veteran corner Bene Benwikere to a one-year contract.
Benwikere, 26, spent the 2017 season with the Dallas Cowboys after three years with the Carolina Panthers. Last year, Benwikere saw action in 12 games for Dallas, primarily on special teams. He finished the year with two total tackles, but played only 10 defensive snaps.
In Carolina, Benwikere was more a part of the defensive rotation. Over three seasons, Benwikere started 14 games, had two interceptions, 21 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
Benwikere’s arrival also means a reunion with Steve Wilks, Arizona’s new head coach, who served as a defensive backs coach in the player’s first three seasons.
He was originally a fifth-round pick of the Panthers out of San Jose State in 2014. Benwikere had 14 career interceptions in college, including seven in 2012, which was the second-most in the nation that season. His 152 interception return yards ranked sixth among FBS defenders that year.
The Cardinals may not be done shopping for corner help, according to Mike Jurecki of 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.
#AZ still have interest CB Marcus Cooper. https://t.co/3IZjvEeAjz
— Mike Jurecki (@mikejurecki) March 23, 2018
Our own John Gambadoro was the first to report the Cooper news Thursday.
