Report: Cardinals visit with Evan Mathis, offer 2-year deal
Mar 15, 2016, 4:24 PM | Updated: Mar 16, 2016, 1:03 pm
Denver Broncos guard Evan Mathis, right, squares off with practice squad center Dillon Day during an NFL football practice at the team's headquarters Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016, in Englewood, Colo. The Broncos are preparing to face the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 on Sunday, Feb. 7, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
With the trade of Jonathan Cooper to the New England Patriots, the Arizona Cardinals suddenly had a hole at right guard.
We’ll see how long it remains.
One reason the #AZCardinals felt comfortable trading an OL today? Source said Evan Mathis visited them today & they offered a 2-year deal.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 15, 2016
The 34-year-old Mathis spent last season with the Denver Broncos, for whom he appeared in all 16 games with 12 starts. Prior to that, he spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers.
A Pro Bowl choice in 2013 and 2014 as well as a First-Team All-Pro selection in 2013, Mathis has appeared in 130 career games, starting 90 of them.
Mathis is not the only free agent offensive lineman to be linked to the Cardinals, as over the weekend it was reported they were bringing in guard Amini Silatolu for a visit and then Monday it was learned Arizona was going to chat with tackle Andre Smith, too.
Whether they sign any of the linemen or not, the Cardinals figure to have a very different look up front than they had when the 2015 season came to an end. Of the five offensive linemen who started in the NFC Championship Game against the Carolina Panthers, only left tackle Jared Veldheer and left guard Mike Iupati are guaranteed to return.
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