NFL free agency isn’t for a couple of more months but that doesn’t stop people from thinking about it. The Arizona Cardinals have a number of needs they should address in the offseason between free agency and the draft.
PFF named a scheduled free agent for every team that they should target when the new league year begins.
The pick for the Cardinals is cornerback D.J. Reed, now on the New York Jets. He is the No. 6 overall free agent and No. 1 cornerback.
After finishing the regular season ranked 28th in defensive EPA per play, 31st in success rate and 17th in team coverage grade, the Cardinals will need to revamp their defense going into 2025. Garrett Williams (83.7 PFF coverage grade) was one of the more unsung cornerbacks in the league this past year, but the Cardinals could certainly use help on the outside.
With $82 million in their back pocket, why not make a splash with a long-term lockdown guy like Reed? The 28-year-old wasn’t as dynamic in 2024, recording only a 70.1 PFF coverage grade, but he’s been as effective as almost anyone over the past few years. Since he joined the Jets in 2022, Reed ranks 15th among qualified cornerbacks in PFF overall grade (80.1) and eighth in PFF coverage grade (84.4).
Reed would improve the cornerback room, but will the Cardinals go out and spend on a top cornerback in free agency?
Williams is great. They signed Sean Murphy-Bunting to a three-year deal last offseason and selected Max Melton in the second round of the draft.
It isn’t a matter of impact. It is more a matter of resources.
Should they add a cornerback? Probably. It should be someone who can be a starter or depth, or at least be paid like that.
If the Cardinals are going to have a top free agent target, it probably should be someone to vastly improve their meager pass-rushing presence from the edge.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
