Arizona Cardinals sign 49ers free-agent guard Mike Iupati
Mar 9, 2015, 10:38 PM | Updated: Mar 10, 2015, 8:15 pm
The Arizona Cardinals have brought a top-tier offensive lineman into their fold.
49ers free-agent G Mike Iupati has told people he plans to sign with the Arizona Cardinals, per sources. Iupati vs. SF DT Darnell Dockett.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2015
Mike Iupati's deal with Arizona: 5 yrs, $40M, plus incentives up to $41M with $22.5M guaranteed.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2015
The 49ers selected Iupati with the 17th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. The 27-year-old left guard has been named to the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons.
ProFootballFocus.com ranked Iupati as the NFL’s 14th-best guard last season, including the second-best run blocker and 55th-best pass blocker.
Prior to the beginning of free agency, NFL.com rated the guard as the fourth-best free agent to hit the market.
He has been among the best maulers in the run game at guard in the entire league throughout his career. But Iupati is not great in pass protection and isn’t coming off his best season.
Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson was intrigued by the news of his team adding Iupati, who was reportedly also reportedly pursued by the Oakland Raiders, New York Jets and Buffalo Bills.
“@AdamSchefter: 49ers free-agent G Mike Iupati has told people he plans to sign with the Arizona Cardinals <- 👀 You have my attention.
— Patrick Peterson (@RealPeterson21) March 9, 2015
And on the flip side, one of Iupati’s former teammates is a little disappointed in the news.
Gonna miss this dude. #Iupati #teammatelove #family pic.twitter.com/OPr4Sx9N1C
— Vernon Davis (@VernonDavis85) March 9, 2015
