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10 NFL players who are regression candidates in 2020

By Nicholas McGee

Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans, #22 (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images)
Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans, #22 (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images) /
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ORCHARD PARK, NY – DECEMBER 08: Jordan Phillips #97 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates against the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter at New Era Field on December 8, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. Baltimore defeats Buffalo 24-17. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY – DECEMBER 08: Jordan Phillips #97 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates against the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter at New Era Field on December 8, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. Baltimore defeats Buffalo 24-17. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

Arizona Cardinals. Jordan Phillips. 4. player. Scouting Report. DE. Pick Analysis. 32

Phillips broke out in a massive way for the excellent Bills defense last year as he produced a career-high 9.5 sacks for Buffalo.

That led the Cardinals to hand the former second-round pick a three-year, $30m contract with $18.5m guaranteed, a significant gamble on a player who had never previously tallied more than two sacks during his career.

Phillips was in an excellent situation to succeed in Buffalo, where he played on the same front as Ed Oliver and Jerry Hughes and benefited from being supported by one of the league’s elite secondaries.

The Cardinals have frequent Defensive Player of the Year candidate Chandler Jones at edge rusher but they do not have the same level of talent on the defensive line as the Bills and their secondary is a long way from being a match for that of Buffalo.

Arizona’s defense is the weakness of the Cardinals roster and they are in NFC West division featuring an elite quarterback in Russell Wilson and two offensive coordinators, Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay, who are among the best at exploiting such deficiencies.

In terms of his supporting cast and his opposition, Phillips is in a significantly worse situation to succeed and his contract is one the Cardinals may soon come to regret.

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