A brief look at the yet-to-be-signed Cardinals free agents
Mar 23, 2017, 6:38 AM | Updated: 11:37 am
Arizona Cardinals running back Chris Johnson (23) celebrates his touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Free agency is now two weeks old, and for the most part, the biggest moves that could be made have been.
At this point in the process, the players who are left tend to be veterans looking for the right spot or young, unproven players who are hoping to find a home.
There is no specific timeline for when remaining free agents will sign, and it’s possible some will have to wait until training camp before joining a team.
In Arizona, free agency has hit the Cardinals pretty hard. They went into it with roughly 20 players hitting the open market, and as of now the majority have moved on.
Some re-signed, however, and a handful of others have yet to go anywhere.
So, which players who were last with the Cardinals have not yet flown the coop? Might they eventually return to Arizona? Let’s take a look.
Chris Johnson
Though Johnson has not yet signed anywhere, it would still come as a shock to see him return. The veteran’s role with the team was questionable last season even before he landed on injured reserve, and though he understood the team’s decision to leave him there and activate safety Tyvon Branch, it’s tough to believe it sat well with him. He showed in 2015 he still had something left in the tank when he rushed for 814 yards, and what was essentially a lost 2016 may allow him to be fresh for 2017. Just how he signed with the Cardinals early in training camp 2015, Johnson is likely to find a landing spot later in the offseason as teams’ needs at running back become more clear.
Stepfan Taylor
A fifth-round pick in 2013 out of Stanford, Taylor has proven to be valuable on special teams and, if nothing else, reliable as a running back. His role on offense decreased substantially last season, with him receiving a career-low four carries (that he turned into 12 yards) and failing to even be targeted in the passing game. David Johnson is very much locked in as the Cardinals’ No. 1 running back, though there is some uncertainty behind him. Even still, if the 25-year-old Taylor is hoping to find an expanded role as a running back, it likely won’t come in Arizona.
Taylor Boggs
At least a handful of times during the season Boggs’ name was brought up by head coach Bruce Arians and offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin, and he found himself in the starting lineup at right guard for the Cardinals in Week 15 against the Saints and then again in Week 16 against the Seahawks. Unfortunately for him, a shoulder injury knocked him out of the game in Seattle and led him to injured reserve. A veteran of four different teams — including the Cardinals — the 30-year-old may find it appealing to come back for another go in Arizona. With Evan Mathis retired and Earl Watford now in Jacksonville, Boggs could battle with Evan Boehm and other unproven linemen for the starting right guard job.
Mike Jenkins
Jenkins joined the Cardinals over the summer and was battling for a starting cornerback spot when he suffered a broken bone in his hand during training camp. He came back from that, however, and was playing well until he suffered a torn ACL in the team’s third preseason game against the Houston Texans. The veteran has had success in the NFL, with 10 career interceptions in stops with the Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but his future is cloudy due to his injury. If healthy, it is reasonable to think the Cardinals would have interest in bringing him back.
Sio Moore
Signed by the Cardinals on Nov. 22, Moore was active for the final four games of the season, racking up 40 total tackles along with two passes defensed and two forced fumbles with Arizona. Cardinals coaches were pleased with how he stepped in as injuries piled up at linebacker, He began the season with the Indianapolis Colts, and in eight games overall produced 68 total tackles. Just 26 years old, Moore has been with four different teams already. There is no reason to think the Cardinals wouldn’t like to have him back, though he may be waiting to see what kind of role he would have in Arizona or somewhere else.
