BR’s Cole: No concern over Cardinals’ slow start to free agency
Mar 9, 2016, 3:54 PM | Updated: 4:26 pm
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) eludes Miami Dolphins defensive end Olivier Vernon (50) on a run during the first quarter of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Free agency is always an exciting time for NFL fans, as some of the league’s most notable players change teams while high-dollar contracts are handed out.
It’s important to remember, though, that while teams can and have added some talented players this way, the best franchises usually find the bulk of their key talent via the draft.
On top of that, the best teams are rarely the most active — at least in the early days of free agency — so a team getting off to a slow start may not really be reason for concern.
That’s the feeling Bleacher Report NFL writer Jason Cole has with regards to the Arizona Cardinals, who won 13 games last season but as of Wednesday afternoon had yet to make a splashy free agent signing.
In fact, the Cardinals have mostly made headlines for the players they’ve whiffed on.
“It’s been a pretty good team for the last two years now, almost three, but really the last two years,” he told Bickley and Marotta on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Wednesday. “In 2014 the real hesitation there was, or the real problem was the injury to Carson Palmer.
“So to me, the base of this team is really, really good.”
The Cardinals have reportedly been interested in a collection of pass rushers, but so far the best ones on the market have chosen to sign elsewhere. Cole understands Arizona’s desire to upgrade the pass rush, but isn’t fretting over their struggles in addressing the need.
“Do you need to overpay and spend 12, 13 or 14 million dollars on Olivier Vernon right now,” he asked, before word came out that Vernon had agreed to a deal with the New York Giants that is worth $85 million over five seasons, with $52.5 million in guaranteed money. “No — you can hold out a little bit and be a little more patient.
“You eventually have to find something, whether that’s in the draft or some aging vets.”
One of the other options Cole mentioned, William Hayes, chose to re-sign with the Los Angeles Rams, which took another potential option off the board. But Cole’s point is that the Cardinals are not necessarily going to be hung out to dry.
“But just because the prize guys on the shelf, you didn’t pick them off, I wouldn’t panic just yet,” he said. “This is still a really good team.”
