Arizona Cardinals still eyeing the cornerback market
Jul 29, 2022, 9:30 AM
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Josh Jackson practices during his minicamp tryout in Tempe, Ariz., on June 14, 2022. (Arizona Sports Photo/Tyler Drake).
(Arizona Sports Photo/Tyler Drake)
GLENDALE — There’s trust in the Arizona Cardinals’ top two cornerbacks.
Byron Murphy is the clear leader, and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph would not have sent Marco Wilson to the wolves in his rookie year if he wasn’t mentally ready.
Beyond that, the Cardinals are still trying to determine what they have behind those two. On Day 2 of training camp — without pads still — the process of understanding the options is just beginning.
Antonio Hamilton is the leader in the clubhouse because he played significant snaps as the No. 3 option for portions of last season, but signee Josh Jackson is the addition with a resume that puts him in line to compete for a big role in 2022.
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Head coach Kliff Kingsbury said Thursday the team remains in the market to add another corner.
“I think so. I think we’re going to continue to work with the group we have and then see what’s out there,” Kingsbury said. “There’s some really good players still out there trying to find homes. We’ll be in that market, definitely.
“But I like Josh. He’s got some savvy, he’s played in big games and he has great ball skills — going back to college has a bunch of interceptions and you saw that today in 7-on-7s.”
Jackson was a second-round pick out of Iowa who blew up as a college junior with eight interceptions, two returned for touchdowns, and 18 total passes defensed.
That momentum for the lanky 6-foot-1 corner continued into the pros. He had his best season as a rookie with the Green Bay Packers in 2018.
Jackson posted 49 tackles with 10 passes defensed that year but fell into a depth role the next two seasons. He’s since spent time with the New York Giants and Kansas City Chiefs before signing with Arizona as the team attempted to fill the room following the death of projected contributor Jeff Gladney.
Now along with Murphy, Wilson, Hamilton and Jackson, the cornerback room also includes Breon Borders, Jace Whittaker, Nate Brooks, plus rookies Darrell Baker Jr. and Christian Matthew.
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