Arizona Cardinals on the free agent cusp: Cornerback Robert Alford

The Arizona Cardinals have decisions to make this offseason, especially when it comes down to free agency.

With more than a handful of key contributors’s contracts expiring, Arizona must choose whether to re-sign the guys they’ve come to know or test the waters for some new blood.

Before the offseason and free agency gets into full swing, Arizona Sports’ Cardinals reporter Tyler Drake and fellow editors Kevin Zimmerman, Kellan Olson and Jake Anderson share their thoughts on who might stay and who will go.

The latest addition to the series revolves around cornerback Robert Alford.

Basics

Alford originally joined the Cardinals in 2019 to pair alongside Patrick Peterson until back-to-back season-ending injuries (broken leg and torn pectoral) derailed two years of the cornerback’s career.

This past offseason, Alford was released by Arizona to open cap space but quickly re-signed with the Cardinals on a one-year, $990,000 deal.

Alford finished the season on the injured reserve with a pectoral injury suffered in Week 14.

Before heading to the desert, Alford was a member of the Atlanta Falcons for six seasons. He was a second-round draft pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

With Alford a free agent, that leaves Byron Murphy, Marco Wilson, Jace Whittaker (futures deal) and Breon Borders (futures deal) as the only corners on the roster.

Pros

For a cornerback that didn’t see the field for two full seasons, Alford impressed early on as he helped make up for the sudden retirement of Malcolm Butler.

Alongside Murphy and Wilson, Alford filled in nicely for a good part of the season.

In 13 games, Alford recorded an interception, four passes defensed and 30 tackles.

Per Pro Football Focus, Alford posted the best coverage grade of all other cornerbacks on the team with a 68.5. It’s the second best mark of his career.

PFF projects the cornerback’s next contract to be in the one-year, $5 million range, all guaranteed.

Cons

Alford’s biggest knocks against him are his health and his age.

After missing the past seasons, he once again found himself on the IR with a pectoral injury. He’s played a total of 13 games over the past three years in the desert, all coming in 2021.

And at 33 years old, Alford’s getting up there in years, another thing to consider if you are the Cardinals. While he didn’t appear to lose a step in 2021, how will he bounce back with yet another injury? And will he even be ready to play?

Final thought

Drake: Alford is a familiar face that the Cardinals liked enough to keep around this season. Injuries are a massive concern, however.

There’s definitely a world where Alford sticks around, especially if he is open to another type of prove-it deal that doesn’t rip into the cap space too much, but Arizona must find other durable options to add alongside Murphy and Wilson before thinking about Alford’s services.

Likelihood of returning?

Drake: Low. While the Cardinals are desperate for added depth at cornerback, Alford’s injury history and age present too many variables to the equation.

Zimmerman: Low. A second pectoral injury makes him a risky signing, even at a bargain. Then again, he’s an energy booster and highly regarded as a teammate.

Olson: Medium. The Cardinals would be foolish to rely on Alford again at the position they need to upgrade the most given his injuries and lack of inspirational play in general. But Alford knows the system, is a veteran and will likely be cheap.

Anderson: Medium. This is a tough one to call because of the combination of Alford’s injury history/age and the Cardinals’ complete lack of depth at the cornerback position, which was put on full display toward the end of the season and into the playoffs. Alford will turn 34 in November. However, the cornerback showed he was a viable DB in the lone year he was healthy enough to see the field.

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