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Evan Mathis signs one-year deal with Arizona Cardinals

By John Buhler

Dec 6, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Denver Broncos guard Evan Mathis (69) in pass protection during the first half of the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Denver won 17-3. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Denver Broncos guard Evan Mathis (69) in pass protection during the first half of the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Denver won 17-3. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Evan Mathis has agreed to sign a one-year deal worth $6 million with the Arizona Cardinals.

Yet another talented player of the 2015 Denver Broncos has left the Mile High City in 2016 NFL free agency, as veteran offensive guard Evan Mathis will according to NFL.com’s Albert Breer will sign a one-year deal worth $6 million to play for the NFC West’s Arizona Cardinals.

ESPN’s Adam Caplan expands on Breer’s initial tweet stating that Mathis will make exactly $6,000,069 in 2016, as the No. 69 is very special to Mathis, who wore that jersey number during his two previous NFL stops with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Denver Broncos.

While the 11-year NFL veteran guard will enter the 2016 NFL season at 34 years of age, he is a two-time Pro Bowler and a former All-Pro in 2013 while with the Eagles. Mathis has 90 career starts under his belt in 130 games played as a professional.

Mathis will almost certainly replace the departed offensive guard Jonathan Cooper who the Cardinals traded along with the No. 61 overall selection in the 2016 NFL Draft to the New England Patriots for Pro Bowl defensive end Chandler Jones.

At 6’5″, 304 pounds, the former third round pick by the Carolina Panthers in the 2005 NFL Draft out of the University of Alabama will at least be able to bridge the gap for Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians’ offensive line in 2016 while the Cardinals look for a more longterm solution at guard either in the draft or during next year’s NFL free agency.

Mathis has played his best ball in an up-tempo offense and with the Cardinals being one of the most dynamic offenses in the NFL since Arians took over in 2013, this seems like a good one-year fit for both Arizona and the veteran offensive guard.

For more posts on 2016 NFL free agency, please check out our NFL free agency hub page.

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