Arizona Cardinals: Grading big free agent additions so far

Malcolm Butler, CB (Tennessee Titans)

Grade: A

Malcolm Butler was the missing piece for this defense after they lost Patrick Peterson to the Minnesota Vikings in free agency. The team needed a number one corner and Butler provides just that at a decent cost of a one-year $6 million deal. Peterson signed a one-year $10 million contract with the Vikings so perhaps the Cardinals chose not to make up that $4 million difference.

Butler does not have the resume that Peterson does but he has been a solid starting corner in the NFL for seven years and has loads of big game and postseason experience. He matched his career high in interceptions with four in 2020 and far exceeded his career high in tackles with 100 combined.

The former Titan brings a solid physical presence to the Arizona secondary and plenty of playmaking ability as shown by his career 17 interceptions and five forced fumbles. If the pass rush is everything it is cracked up to be then the Arizona defense should be a top-five unit in the league now that they have bolstered with this signing.

There is little if any downside to the Butler addition given the length and value of his contract so this is just good business for a solid player that has plenty of experience and talent. Arizona will still likely draft a defensive back in the first few rounds and adding Butler does not keep them from doing that.