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Arizona Cardinals free agency 2019: Top 5 targets

By Russell S. Baxter

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)
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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ARLINGTON, TX – JANUARY 05: Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker K.J. Wright (50) celebrates his interception in the endzone during the NFC wildcard playoff game between the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys on January 5, 2019 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. (Photo by Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – JANUARY 05: Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker K.J. Wright (50) celebrates his interception in the endzone during the NFC wildcard playoff game between the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys on January 5, 2019 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. (Photo by Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. OLB K.J. Wright (Seattle Seahawks)

It wasn’t long ago that the Arizona Cardinals’ defense was a team strength and a big reason for the team getting to the postseason two straight seasons from 2014-15. Be it Todd Bowles or James Bettcher as the coordinator, this unit came up with its share of sacks and takeaways. Hybrid defender Deone Bucannon was a first-round pick in 2014, defensive end/outside linebacker Markus Golden was a second-round selection one year later and in ’16, the Cardinals dealt for defensive end Chandler Jones. He’s rewarded them with a combined 41 sacks these past three seasons – including 13 quarterback traps this past year.

With free agency right around the corner, both Bucannon and Golden are slate to become unrestricted free agents. General manager Steve Keim could have a little trouble retaining both young performers, especially with former Cardinals’ sideline leader Bruce Arians now at the helm of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

So could Keim and new head coach Kliff Kingsbury be ready to raid a division rival for some defensive help? The Seattle Seahawks have some free-agent decisions to make in the form of defensive end Frank Clark and outside linebacker can test free agency on March 13.

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So could Wright be the correct move for the Cards? He was limited to only six games this past season (including the playoff loss at Dallas) due to a knee injury but started at least a dozen games in each of his first seven years in the league. He could be a leader on the team’s new-look defense under coordinator Vance Joseph.

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