The Arizona Cardinals had a stellar regular season campaign as they ended with an 11-6 record for the second spot in the NFC West. However, things took a steep turn as they had a sudden meltdown in their Wild Card Round matchup against the Los Angeles Rams which quickly booted them out of the playoffs.
After the disappointing finish, the team's brass must now re-evaluate the composition of the team, from the coaching staff down to the players. Surely, the upcoming offseason will be a crucial one as they aim to get back on track as a playoff contender for 2022.
With that said, here are three players that the Cardinals must re-sign in the upcoming free agency heading to next season:
Cardinals 2022 NFL Free Agency Moves
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3. Zach Ertz
After seeing a rough ending to his stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, tight end Zach Ertz found himself emerging as a vital contributor for the Cardinals this season. Acquired via a mid-season trade, the three-time Pro Bowler appeared in 11 games and compiled 574 receiving yards on 56 receptions and three touchdowns in the desert.
He proved his value as a pass-catcher and an offensive threat towards the tail-end of the season when the Cardinals had to deal with a depleted roster. Overall, the 2021 season is still a respectable campaign for Ertz, given his short stint and the fact that he had to share touches with other potent weapons on offense.
Per Alex Weiner, the tight end felt like he found a home in Arizona and expressed his desire to stay longer with the team. It wouldn't hurt the Cardinals to spend on a talent like Ertz who has shown his worth and provided timely contributions for them in such a limited amount of time.
2. James Conner
Another talent who had a resurgence with the team this season was running back James Conner. He was only acquired at a bargain one-year, $1.75 million contract though he certainly overperformed and became one of the top weapons of the Cardinals offense.
Conner finished with career-high numbers of 752 rushing yards on 202 attempts and 15 scoring drives in 15 games played this season. More than being a reliable rusher, he also showed his ability to serve as a dual-threat on the field and make plays as a pass-catcher as well.
Due to his stellar play, Conner earned the second Pro Bowl honor of his career and is looking to perform at a higher level next year. He has surely gained leverage after a productive campaign and the Cardinals would be wise to not let him walk away for 2022 and beyond.
Perhaps the biggest name on the team's free agents list for next season would be star linebacker Chandler Jones. He was a menace on defense for the Cardinals as he notched 10.5 sacks, 41 combined tackles, and 26 QB hits to land his fourth Pro Bowl selection in 2021.
Jones has already played out the final season of his five-year, $82.5 million contract signed back in 2017. After producing stellar numbers, there is no doubt that he will not stay for cheap with the Cardinals and is sure to attract significant attention from other teams who can afford his services.
Arizona's front office must find a way to tweak the contracts of the other players and make space for his new deal if they are serious about retaining the 31-year-old at the helm. Though it will be a challenge, the work will surely be worth it if they can successfully bring back an All-Pro talent like Jones for another tour of duty moving forward.
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