ARIZONA CARDINALS

ESPN Insider: Cardinals struggling in free agency

Apr 2, 2012, 7:33 PM | Updated: 8:45 pm

The Arizona Cardinals went into the offseason with some
holes to fill.

A month into the process, not much has changed.

While the Cardinals did a good job of retaining their own
guys, save Richard Marshall who left for Miami, there are
some who doubt adding William Gay and Adam Snyder to a
group that includes Early Doucet and Levi Brown has made
the Cardinals any better than they were at the end of last
season.

Matt Williamson, in an ESPN
Insider story
, is one such person, as he gave the
Cardinals a “D” when grading how every team has fared in
free agency.

The Cardinals lost very little in free agency — unless
you count Peyton Manning among those losses. They also
didn’t add a lot and were strapped with financial issues,
which really curtailed their ability to spend in free
agency. Campbell needed to be franchised and is now a
cornerstone player in this organization. Gay and Doucet
will have starter/depth value, but the Cardinals’
offensive line still looks like one of the worst in all of
football. It would be surprising if Arizona wasn’t
proactive in drafting offensive linemen this draft.

True, it would seem the Cardinals are practically forcing
themselves to take an offensive lineman early in this
month’s draft, possibly making them reach for a position
of need rather than taking the best available player.

However, this is a team that finished last season winning
seven of its final nine games, leading many to feel there
is plenty of talent already on the roster.

And, if that’s the case, perhaps wholesale changes were
not necessary to begin with.

Arizona Cardinals

Tip Reiman catches a pass during rookie minicamp...

Tyler Drake

Arizona Cardinals sign rookie tight end Tip Reiman to 4-year contract

The Arizona Cardinals signed rookie tight end and self-proclaimed mauler Tip Reiman to a four-year contract on Friday.

52 minutes ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Jonathan Gannon talks Arizona Cardinals’ Kyler Murray, James Conner basketball skills in OKC

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon reacts to seeing Kyler Murray and James Conner at the NBA playoff game in Oklahoma City.

3 hours ago

Zay Jones runs after the catch...

Tyler Drake

Arizona Cardinals agree to terms with wide receiver Zay Jones

Former Jaguars wide receiver Zay Jones is signing with the Arizona Cardinals, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and ESPN's Adam Schefter.

3 hours ago

Max Melton runs the 40-yard dash at the 2024 NFL Draft Combine...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals rookies on cusp of writing new chapter in their football journeys

While the NFL Draft marked the end of one journey, it along with rookie minicamp kicking off Friday signaled the beginning of another.

22 hours ago

Xavier Thomas celebrates midgame...

Tyler Drake

Arizona Cardinals sign Xavier Thomas, 3 other rookies to 4-year contracts

The Arizona Cardinals signed four rookies from their 2024 NFL Draft class to four-year contracts on Thursday.

23 hours ago

Cardinals rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. announces on his social media he will be wearing...

Bailey Leasure

Marvin Harrison Jr. announces his Cardinals jersey number

Cardinals rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. announces on his social media he will be wearing No. 18 for the team.

2 days ago

ESPN Insider: Cardinals struggling in free agency