Cardinals sign vet OLB, former Dolphin Andre Branch

The Arizona Cardinals signed veteran outside linebacker Andre Branch to a one-year deal on Tuesday and additionally activated inside linebacker Dante Booker off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

The signing of Branch comes after the team reportedly visited with the free agent in mid-June.

Branch, 30, has 125 solo tackles, 25.5 sacks and eight forced fumbles over a seven-year NFL career.

He began his pro career in 2012 with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who selected him with a second-round pick out of Clemson. Branch spent his first four years with the Jaguars before joining the Dolphins in 2016.

The 6-foot-5, 263-pound defensive end had the best year of his career in his first season with Miami, starting 11 of 16 games and finishing with 49 tackles, 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

That led to the Dolphins giving Branch a three-year, $24 million extension in March of 2017, an extension which Miami would only see two seasons out of after releasing him this past March.

With Arizona, Branch will play with an outside linebacker group that includes Chandler Jones, Terrell Suggs and Brooks Reed. The Cardinals signed and waived linebacker Matt Longacre over the weekend.

Booker was placed on the PUP July 20 with a knee issue.

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