For the Arizona Cardinals, we knew there would be questions on the secondary heading into the 2021 NFL offseason.
Those questions… remain thanks to the Cardinals only move this offseason being to bring back Robert Alford.
Pro Football Focus called the lack of moves in free agency the Cardinals worst moves of the offseason.
ARIZONA CARDINALS: NEGLECTING THE SECONDARY
The Cardinals ranked 26th among NFL teams in outside-coverage grade in 2020, and the play from Patrick Peterson and Dre Kirkpatrick had a lot to do with that.
The veteran duo departed in free agency, which has left Arizona in need of two new starting outside corners. Still, they decided to do nothing to address this in free agency, other than re-signing Robert Alford after they initially cut him. And I wouldn’t bank on Alford filling one of those starting spots and producing at a high level — he hasn’t played a down since the 2018 season when he posted a 53.1 coverage grade.
Arizona is now stuck hoping that one of the top cornerbacks is still on the board at Pick 16 in the 2021 NFL Draft. Taking a corner there isn’t a bad thing, but it is risky to bet on there being a quality corner — such as Caleb Farley or Patrick Surtain II — still available when they are on the clock.
Not a surprise, is it?
The Cardinals have put themselves in an interesting situation heading into the 2021 NFL Draft.
They desperately need a cornerback, but they don’t get an early an enough pick to determine getting the player they want since they pick 16th.
However, this is a good draft to need a cornerback, as the top three seem to be a consensus in Caleb Farley, Jaycee Horn and Patrick Surtain.
However, Greg Newsome and Asante Samuel Jr. are intriguing late day one prospects right now, while players like Tyson Campbell, Eric Stokes, and Paulson Adebo give the depth we talked about.
The Cardinals put themselves in a tough spot when it comes to the secondary, but they should have some options on draft day.
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