Arizona Cardinals: 3 Available bargains to target in 2019 NFL free agency
3. OLB Nick Perry (Released by Green Bay Packers)
Things were not exactly terrific on the defensive side of the football for the Cardinals in 2018. Due in part to the fact that the offense couldn’t sustain drives, the Arizona defense wound up allowing the most rushing yards in the league. And one year after finishing sixth in the NFL in fewest total yards allowed per game, the team slipped to 20th in this category.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
So enter new coordinator Vance Joseph, who spent the past two seasons as head coach of the Denver Broncos. And a year after the club struggled with the 4-3 scheme, the well-traveled coach will do it his way.
“When you’re a 4-3 scheme, your four rushers are obvious,” said Joseph to Logan Newman of Arizona Sports 98.7 back in early February. “Offensively, it makes it a little easy, right? They find your best rusher, they scheme it…and it’s done…They have to guess – who’s the fourth rusher. Schematically, you can get Chandler Jones on tight ends and backs.”
Yes, the Cardinals did add ageless Terrell Suggs to the mix. But could the club also take a look at former Green Bay Packers’ outside linebacker Nick Perry sooner than later?
Limited to nine games and 15 sacks this past season, the 28-year old pro amassed a combined 18 QB traps in 26 regular-season games the two years prior to that. Led by Jones, Arizona did rack up 44 sacks this past year and looks to up that total.