From the Ravens to the Cardinals, a longtime staple of the Baltimore defense is ready to prove himself in some different plumage. After 16 seasons with the Ravens, linebacker Terrell Suggs signed a one-year $7 million contract with the Cardinals.
When asked about any potential differences in his game, the 36-year-old Suggs said this to reporters:
“I guess we’re going to find out,” he said, via AZCentral.com. “I’m excited to find out, so let’s see. Let’s see how much we got left. We ain’t gonna cap it.”
Suggs was taken by Baltimore in the first round during the 2003 NFL Draft. A seven-time Pro Bowler, and the 2001 Defensive Player of the Year, this signing is a homecoming of sorts for the linebacker. Suggs played at Arizona State in college and attended high school outside Phoenix.
Suggs is 14th on the all-time sack list and is the NFL career leader in tackles for loss. He leads all active players in forced fumbles, and shows no real signs of slowing down yet, Suggs tallied seven sacks and 13 tackles for loss in 2018.
Arizona needed the defensive help, they finished No. 26 in points allowed in 2018. The Cardinals were able to construct a stingy pass defense—ranking third in the NFL in touchdown passes allowed—but the team struggled against the run. Arizona allowed the most rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in the league.
This deal is a pay raise for Suggs, who hasn’t been paid more than $7 million in any season since his last contract extension with the Baltimore Ravens in 2014. His salary for each of the last two seasons was $4 million. Suggs will be the Cardinals second-highest paid player who is over 30, the 35-year-old wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald will be making $11 million this season in the desert.
With some more help available on the defensive side, Arizona's attention may turn to their offense.
The team has been linked to Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray with their number one overall pick.
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