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The Arizona Cardinals have been doing their due diligence on veteran cornerbacks and they've decided to sign one on Sunday. After bringing him in for a workout earlier this week, pending a physical, the Cardinals plan to sign Dre Kirkpatrick, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
#AZCardinals are planning to sign FA CB Dre Kirkpatrick, source said, pending his physical. He’s on a visit there and assuming all works out to finalize the deal, he would reunite with DC Vance Joseph. They were together with the #Bengals & Dre credits Joseph with his development
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 23, 2020
Vance Joseph, the defensive coordinator of the Cardinals, has some familiarity working with Kirkpatrick. Earlier in his coaching career, Joseph was the defensive backs coach of the Cincinnati Bengals from 2014-2015.
Kirkpatrick, who was with the Bengals from 2012-2019, credits Joseph for his development at the cornerback position. Therefore, there shouldn't be much of an acclimation process for Kirkpatrick if he passes his physical with the Cardinals.
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The addition of Kirkpatrick comes shortly after Arizona lost Robert Alford to an injury for the second straight season. Alford suffered a season-ending pectoral injury early in training camp, leaving the Cardinals with a lack of depth at cornerback.
Last offseason, Arizona brought in Alford with the hope that he could start alongside Patrick Peterson. However, due to injuries, Byron Murphy, who is entering his second season in 2020, has stepped into a starting role in the secondary. Besides Peterson and Murphy, Kirkpatrick would likely become the No. 3 cornerback on the depth chart.
Just a season ago, Kirkpatrick recorded 33 tackles and four pass breakups in six games for the Bengals. His best seasons came from 2013-2017 when he combined for 52 pass breakups and 10 interceptions in that span. Even though he's arriving later in the offseason, Kirkpatrick could find himself playing a crucial role in Arizona's defense this season.
