Arizona Cardinals free agency 2019: Top 5 targets

TEMPE, AZ - JANUARY 09: Arizona Cardinals new head coach Kliff Kingsbury shakes hands with general manager Steve Keim (R) after being introduced to the media at the Arizona Cardinals Training Facility on January 9, 2019 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

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OAKLAND, CA – DECEMBER 24: Denver Broncos nose tackle Domata Sr. Peko (94) walks down the hallway during the regular season NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders on Monday, Dec. 24, 2018 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. DT Domata Peko (Denver Broncos)

New Cardinals’ defensive coordinator Vance Joseph spent the past two seasons as head coach of the Denver Broncos. It wasn’t a very successful stint for the well-traveled defensive mind, who finished with a combined 11-21 record and was dismissed after this past season. But also included on his NFL resume is two seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2014-15. And that makes him very qualified to know what 13-year defensive tackle Domata Peko is capable of.

A fourth-round pick of the Bengals in 2006 out of Michigan State, the 34-year-old performer spent the first 11 seasons of his NFL career in the Queen City. He made the free-agent move to Denver in 2017 and played and started 30 games for Joseph these past two seasons. While the Cardinals did manage 49 sacks this past season, the team was also dead last in the league against the run. Some of that was the result of the defense being on the field far too often. But some of it was also based on disappointing play.

If it’s possible, Peko could make defensive end Chandler Jones even more effective off the edge. Inside, veteran defensive tackle Corey Peters is solid against the run 2016 first-round pick Robert Nkemdiche still needs some work in that department. Adding the 6’3”, 325-pound performer to Joseph’s defense should be a major plus.

Next: No. 1

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