5 younger pass rushers still available in free agency for Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals have not done much yet in free agency when it comes to signing new players. They have added cornerback Jeff Gladney and linebacker Nick Vigil.
They have not signed a pass rusher despite the departure of Chandler Jones, who is now 32 years old.
Head coach Kliff Kingsbury, with comments at the NFL combine, suggested that there would be a priority on getting younger at outside linebacker.
There aren’t many younger pass rushers with established production, but if there are a few to consider. They mostly are players who could surprise.
Here are some possibilities.
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Clowney is 29 years old and the best younger edge defender. He had nine sacks last season and is a stud against the run. Starting with the Houston Texans in a Wade Phillips defense, he has played in a similar defense to what the Cardinals now play.
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McKinley is 26 years old. he had 13 total sacks in his first two seasons but hasn’t done much since. However, he has not played in a 3-4 defense yet in his career, which would seem like more of a fit for his 6-2, 260-pound frame.
Barnett was drafted 14th overall by the Philadelphia Eagles but has not lived up to his first-round status. His career-high in sacks was 6.5 in 2019. He would know Cardinals linebackers coach Bill Davis. But putting him in a 3-4 outside linebacker position could be good for him. He will be 26 years old this season.
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Key will be 26 years old this season.
He was drafted in the third round by the Raiders in 2018 and played last season for the San Francisco 49ers. At 6-5, 240 lbs, he would fit the physical profile. He had 6.5 sacks for the 49ers last season.
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Green will be 25 years old this season after four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. He was drafted in the third round in 2018.
He had 6.5 sacks for Seattle last season.
He has not played in a 3-4 defense but at 6-4, 279 lbs, he could.
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