ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals sign LB Arthur Moats, DE Jacquies Smith to one-year deals

Jul 26, 2018, 11:04 AM | Updated: 11:12 am

Houston Texans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers outside lineback...

Houston Texans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Arthur Moats (55)in the first half of the NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 20, 2014 in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

The Arizona Cardinals signed linebacker Arthur Moats and defensive end Jacquies Smith to a one-year contracts, the team announced on Thursday.

Arizona also waived defensive lineman Praise Martin-Oguike, who was signed to a futures deal in January.

Moats spent the last four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and his first four years in the NFL (2010-13) with the Buffalo Bills as a sixth-round pick out of James Madison.

The 30-year-old has recorded 228 tackles, 16.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in 121 games played during his NFL career.

His most productive season came in 2013, when with the Bills he made 54 tackles.

Last season, Moats saw limited action over 14 games and recorded eight tackles for Pittsburgh.

Moats joins a Cardinals linebacker room with opportunity and playing time behind defensive leader Deone Bucannon, second-year pro Haason Reddick and the re-signed Josh Bynes.

Smith, a fourth-year pro, has 18 starts and 31 games of NFL experience with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions. He recorded 13.5 sacks in his first two years with the Bucs before suffering an ACL tear in 2016 and appearing in three games of limited action for Tampa Bay and Detroit in 2017, recording one tackle.

Moats and safety Mike Mitchell, also a former Pittsburgh player, visited the Cardinals in Arizona on Wednesday. Mitchell reportedly was to take a physical, according to Schefter.

A second-round pick in 2009, Mitchell has accumulated 487 career tackles and 10 interceptions in his nine-year NFL career that began with the Oakland Raiders from 2009-2013.

Mitchell played under Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks for one season in 2013, when Wilks was the Carolina Panthers defensive backs coach.

Presented By
Western Governors University

Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals fans...

Arizona Sports

Did the Chargers GM tease a Cardinals draft-day trade?

The Cardinals are not looking for a quarterback, but Chargers GM Joe Horitz said his team could have its pick of the top non-QB in the draft.

1 hour ago

Monti Ossenfort speaks at the NFL Combine...

Tyler Drake

NFL mock draft tracker: What will the Cardinals do with the No. 4 pick?

A look at the players being mocked to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 4 overall in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

16 hours ago

Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort talks to reporters...

Tyler Drake

Monti Ossenfort keeping trade options open as Cardinals’ draft board nears completion

The Arizona Cardinals have about 95% of their draft board completed about a week out from the NFL Draft and continue to look at all avenues.

2 days ago

Monti Ossenfort looks on during the 2023 NFL Draft Combine...

Tyler Drake

Daniel Jeremiah: NFL Draft is Cardinals’ moment to set up franchise for years to come

The 2024 NFL Draft marks a big set-your-franchise-up situation for the Arizona Cardinals, says NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah.

2 days ago

Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill speaks at a press conference...

Tyler Drake

Michael Bidwill: Cardinals ‘aligned on getting this thing right’ in 2024

Michael Bidwill believes the Cardinals aren't that far off from really turning things around under Jonathan Gannon and Monti Ossenfort.

3 days ago

Marvin Harrison Jr....

Nick Borgia

Marvin Harrison Jr. remains Cardinals top pick in latest ESPN mock

With the 2024 NFL draft just around the corner, ESPN's latest mock draft details what could be in store for the Cardinals' first six picks.

4 days ago

Cardinals sign LB Arthur Moats, DE Jacquies Smith to one-year deals