Even before free agency begins, the Arizona Cardinals have been hard at work. General manager Steve Keim has already engineered one of the moves of the off-season by acquiring J.J. Watt after he was released by the Houston Texans. However, as the fire sale continues, the Cardinals could look to add even more talent from the sinking franchise that is the Texans in free agent cornerback Gareon Conley.
Gareon Conley Free Agency: Signing With the Arizona Cardinals Might Be the Right Move for Player and Team
Need at Corner
Currently, the Cardinals cornerback room is pretty bare. Only Byron Murphy and Robert Alford are contracted through 2021. Unfortunately, Alford has not played in two years due to injury, and Murphy is entrenched as a slot corner. With both starting outside corners in 2020, Patrick Peterson and Dre Kirkpatrick, set to hit free agency on March 17th, the Cardinals have a definite need on the outside for 2021.
With the Cardinals picking at 16 in the draft, taking a corner in round one is a genuine option for Arizona. However, they might be wise to be cautious with a young star. Last season saw the Detroit Lions pay the price for relying on a rookie corner. Jeff Okudah, who was the third overall pick in 2020, struggled throughout the year, which indicates a need for patience with corners coming into the league. Although the top cornerback prospects in 2021 are highly touted, depth and experience at the position is absolutely essential.
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Conley’s Fit in Arizona
A former Ohio State standout, Gareon Conley has had a tumultuous start to his career in the NFL. Drafted by the then Oakland Raiders in 2017, 24th overall, Conley had to contest with sexual assault allegations throughout the draft process. In addition, he saw the field only twice in what was a injury-marred rookie campaign. After a sophomore campaign in which Conley flashed potential, but also saw him get benched by Jon Gruden, Conley was shipped to Houston for a 2020 third-round pick.
Conley ultimately played only half a season for the Texans. He then saw his fifth-year option declined by the team in the 2020 off-season. Following this, he landed on the PUP list before an ill-fated, premature return to the team saw him hit Injured Reserve in September. Consequently, Conley did not play in 2020.
So why should the Cardinals sign Conley? Despite a troubling injury history, Conley has flashed potential in his time with the Raiders and Texans. Vance Joseph‘s scheme is one of the most aggressive defensive systems in the NFL. Pairing high-volume blitzes with press man coverages on the outside, the scheme is reliant on consistent lockdown coverage for success. Conley excels in man-to-man coverage schemes, like those used in Vance Joseph’s system. He has both the size and speed to be successful at the position. As a lockdown man-to-man corner, his play is dogged, physical and disruptive.
His technique may lack discipline and, in the modern game, his raw style is a penalty risk, but Conley has demonstrated a playmaking ability worth taking a chance on. In man coverage, his ability to play the ball is notable, particularly throughout the process of the catch. In addition, he has also seen playing time in some zone schemes, in which his instincts for the ball have been on full display.
Last Word on Gareon Conley Free Agency: Signing With the Arizona Cardinals
Conley’s injury history is certainly a worry for any potential suitors in free agency. Reports of a difficult rehab from an ankle injury cast a shadow over his sustainability going forward. In a scheme like Arizona’s, the team would need assurances about his physical condition if they were to consider a move. That being said, Conley’s shaky career so far might be a blessing in what might prove to be a financially complicated year for the NFL where the salary cap will decrease. Injury problems and inconsistency will make 2021 a prove it year for Conley, who could take a one-year deal in order to possibly sign a bigger deal in 2022.
The Cardinals are emerging as an attractive free agency destination in 2021. Although spending a relatively short time in Houston, connections like DeAndre Hopkins and J.J. Watt could prove useful recruitment tools as Conley heads out onto the open market. Furthermore, the Cardinals will expect to make a championship run this year, in the run up to a possible extension for Kyler Murray.
Conley could possibly be a risk for Arizona, although it would be a temporary and fairly inexpensive one. The Cardinals should at least consider a move for Gareon Conley when free agency starts on March 17th.
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