Former Arizona Cardinals LB Alex Okafor signs with New Orleans Saints
Mar 14, 2017, 7:57 AM | Updated: 9:33 pm
Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Alex Okafor (57) during an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Another day, another free agent loss.
Tuesday, the Arizona Cardinals watched as outside linebacker Alex Okafor signed a deal with the New Orleans Saints, according to various reports.
Okafor, 26, was originally a fourth-round pick of the Cardinals out of Texas in 2013. In four years in the desert, he amassed 13.5 sacks, 75 tackles, four pass break ups, an interception and a forced fumble.
During his Cardinals tenure, Okafor played in 42 games, starting 25.
Last season, Okafor was a reserve outside linebacker playing behind Chandler Jones and Markus Golden in the Cardinals’ scheme and was on the field for only 21.5 percent of the team’s defensive snaps. Still, he managed 13 total tackles and 3.5 sacks.
His best season came in 2014, when Okafor started 12 games and racked up a career-high eight sacks, helping the Cardinals to an 11-5 record and an NFC Wild Card berth.
Arizona wanted to bring Okafor back in a similar role, but instead he opted for New Orleans, where he’ll likely play as a defensive end in the Saints’ 4-3 alignment.
The Cardinals did visit with free agent Jarvis Jones Monday after Jones hit the market after a disappointing four years in Pittsburgh. Arizona initially didn’t offer the former first-round pick a contract, but that changed after Okafor committed to the Saints.
