ESPN Insider: Cardinals should sign Martellus Bennett as a free agent
Feb 17, 2017, 2:46 PM | Updated: Feb 18, 2017, 9:13 pm
FILE - In this Oct. 9, 2016, file photo, New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett celebrates a touchdown catch against the Cleveland Browns in the first half of an NFL football game in Cleveland. In his first season in New England, the Patriots tight end has brought a mellow vibe and unique personality to an organization that usually shies away from individuality. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane, File)
(AP Photo/Ron Schwane, File)
Under head coach Bruce Arians, the Cardinals have been very proficient on the offensive side of the ball.
But despite having one of the NFL’s best offenses, Arizona has not used tight ends as much as one might think.
In 2016, the Cardinals’ leading receiver for a tight end was Jermaine Gresham, though his 391 receiving yards ranked sixth overall on the team. Gresham’s receiving yards were 28th in the league for tight ends.
That’s why in an ESPN Insider article listing one free agent each NFL team should sign, tight end Martellus Bennett was chosen for Arizona.
The 29-year-old could give the Cardinals a new weapon at the tight end position.
Here’s what ESPN said about Bennett potentially going to Arizona:
For a team that uses a tight end as such a crucial part of its offense, the Cardinals might want to fix the revolving door of inadequacy that they’ve managed in recent years. For Arizona, it’s a blocking-first position, and New England’s Bennett has been one of the top blocking tight ends over the course of his career. The journeyman also adds some playmaking ability after the catch, as he led the league in broken tackles in 2013 and 2014.
Bennett would be a valuable signing for the Cardinals. He spent 2016 with the Patriots and helped them win Super Bowl LI with five catches for 62 yards in the OT win over the Atlanta Falcons. During the regular season he caught 55 passes for 701 yards and seven touchdowns.
If Bennett does sign with Arizona, it would be his fifth team, with previous stops with the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Chicago Bears and Patriots. He would join his brother Michael Bennett, who is a defensive lineman for the Seattle Seahawks, in the NFC West.
