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Arizona Cardinals: 5 offseason needs

By Parker Hurley

Jan 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) walks to the field prior to the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) walks to the field prior to the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram (22) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals linebacker Kevin Minter (51) in the first half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram (22) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals linebacker Kevin Minter (51) in the first half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Linebacker

The Cardinals have one linebacker spot locked down with Deone Bucannon. Bucannon is a rangy player, and a former safety. He can move around, but he absolutely needs a compliment. He needs a guy who can run down hill, make tough tackles in the box and be a force against the run. The Cardinals used Kevin Minter and Sio Moore for that role last season.

Entering 2017, both Moore and Minter are free agents. Minter just has not worked out in Arizona. He is likely to find a new home to hope that a change of scenery affects his career for the better. Moore was fine last season, but he has been around, and if he expects to see any sort of reasonable deal, it should not come from Arizona.

The Cardinals still have to be stingy, and cannot throw money around, but they can upgrade their linebacker play. Their best bet here would be A.J. Klein. Klein struggles in pass defense, but he is as sure of a tackler as any player in the box, and has the mentality to be a run stopper.

Klein has been behind Luke Kuechly in every season of his career. He only has 23 starts, but that may play out to benefit Arizona. It will deflate his market, and it will take a team to bet on his skills to sign him to a long term deal. Arizona could be that team.

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