3 Best Free Agents The Cardinals Can Still Pursue

When an NFL franchise loses 26 games in the past two seasons, there are obvious problems and issues. No wonder the head coach was fired.

Plenty of holes to fill and new bodies to bring in and compete. That is the advantage of the free agency period. Next month, the NFL draft will take care of the issues GM Monti Ossenfort wasn’t able to fix.

RELATED: CARDINALS FREE AGENT TRACKING LIST

Thursday began the NFL league year. All contracts signed in the past few days will be processed and become valid.

Already, Ossenfort has signed some new blood to make this roster better, especially the offensive side of the ball. But there is still work to be done. Plus, any players that Ossenfort signs now in free agency should free up some draft spots so that new guys can be obtained in areas of need.

There is still talent out there to be signed. Here are three that the Cardinals should look at:

OT Taylor Decker

Detroit Lions

Age: 32

2025 PFF: 67.9

Decker (6’-67, 324 pounds) has been in the league for 10 years and has only played for one club, which is a very odd stat. He is the #2 free agent tackle on the market this year. Why is he still available? Some players take their time when multiple teams are bidding for their services. Or maybe his agent is in negotiations with particulars like contract length or money, tying up the process.  

Whatever the reason, Arizona needs another offensive tackle. And Decker can solve their issues. Already, Ossenfort has brought in help for the offensive line with the signing of OT Matt Pryor and OG Isaac Seumalo.

Decker has started 140 NFL games and has been pretty durable. He is an exceptional pass blocker. He asked for his release with the belief that he could get a better contract on the market. He did consider retirement before last year, so there’s that. He is a solid competitor and consistent.

He has a shoulder injury that he has acknowledged may never be right until his final game, and he battled this inconvenience all last year. He still produced an above-average season. He’s still very capable of being a reliable, solid left tackle in this league.

Now, you may wonder why, if he and Rasheed Walker are the two best offensive tackles on the market, why they haven’t been signed yet to a new team. That is probably due to a couple of things. For one, both players assumed the offers would have been higher for talented offensive tackles, and were disappointed at either the number of years offered, the total amount of the contract, or the guaranteed money involved. Another development involves OT Trent Williams of the 49ers asking for a trade. Still another aspect is that sometimes players wait to see which teams are hurting for an offensive tackle.

Projection: Two years, $21 million

S Andre Cisco  

New York Jets

Age: 25

2025 PFF: 61.3

Cisco (6’-0”, 210 pounds) missed the second half of the 2025 season with an injury to repair a pectoral tear that required surgery. He is on track to begin training camp. The Cardinals lost a really good safety in Jalen Thompson, who has signed with the Dallas Cowboys. Now, a replacement is needed.

He has experience with 55 NFL starts. This past season, he started the first eight games and was having a great season with 41 total tackles. He can play over the top in the deep half. In five seasons, Cisco has had eight interceptions, 1,5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and 25 pass breakups.

A high-IQ guy, Cisco can play in the box or maintain center field. He offers versatility and has exceptional instincts, plus he is aggressive. He did have five missed tackles last year, but he is a thumper and will come down and support the run without any issues.

Projection: Two years, $20 million

EDGE Joey Bosa

Buffalo Bills

Age: 31

2025 PFF: 79.3

Okay, so why not Joey Bosa? Why can’t the Cardinals bring in a guy who most likely will end his career in a gold jacket? Arizona got J.J. Watt on his way out, remember? So, why not Bosa?

Ossenfort has only addressed the defensive line with the return of DT Roy Lopez III. There needs to be a bookend for Josh Sweat, and Bosa would blow the lid off the Cardinals’ pass rush.

Ossenfort may be thinking that the other defensive end will come in the April NFL draft. With the third pick, Arizona should have its pick of several exceptional pass rushers such as Arvell Reese, Reuben Bain, Sonny Styles, or David Bailey. He could also go offensive line, but then again, he could grab a very good guard or tackle early in Round 2.

But that is a month away. This is here and now.

Ossenfort did sign DE Jonah Williams away from the New Orleans Saints, but he is considered a rotation guy instead of a starting EDGE rusher and has average production numbers. And former Cardinals first-round draft pick Darius Robinson is still hanging around. We think.

And yes, Bosa is on the wrong side of 30. He had a great PFF grade for being 30 years old, so he must be doing something right. He started 15 games with 29 tackles and five sacks. For his career, he has 77 sacks, so he knows how to get to the quarterback. If signed, he would become more of a situational rusher, but he can still win with speed-to-power. His effort level also leads to production late in the play.

Projection: Two years, $26 million