The Arizona Cardinals are turning over a new leaf this offseason. After moving on from both head coach Jonathan Gannon and quarterback Kyler Murray, it’s clear that the Cardinals are starting from scratch, meaning it’s going to be some time until they reemerge as a contender in the NFC West division.
Arizona has been busy making moves in free agency, and while it hasn’t exactly blown the doors off the house with any of its moves, the front office has made some intriguing signings. The latest move the Cardinals made saw them bring former Jacksonville Jaguars starting safety Andrew Wingard to town.
Cardinals Sign Andrew Wingard to 1-Year Contract
Wingard went undrafted in 2019, but he found a home with the Jags, and he’s played for them over the past seven seasons. During his time in town, Wingard’s role has changed several times, as he initially started out as primarily a special teams ace before starting at safety in 2021. That lasted just one season, though, as Wingard reverted to special teams in 2022.
In 2025, though, Wingard earned a starting safety job again, and he turned in the best season of his career (84 tackles, one interception, nine pass breakups). Wingard was second on the team in tackles, and it seemed like he picked a perfect time to put together a strong campaign with free agency looming.
Jacksonville ended up letting Wingard hit the open market, and with Arizona changing things up across the board, it opted to make a run at the veteran safety. That resulted in them signing him to a one-year contract, with the hope being that he will be able to earn a starting job at the backend of their defense.
“Cardinals signed former Jaguars safety Andrew Wingard, who started 16 games last season and finished second on the team in tackles, to a one-year contract,” Adam Schefter of ESPN reported in a post on X.
Cardinals Take Flier on Andrew Wingard in Free Agency
GettyThe Cardinals have signed safety Andrew Wingard to a one-year contract in free agency
The addition of Wingard is a unique move for the Cardinals. While he isn’t the best safety in the league, Wingard is a guy who can wear several different hats, as he’s a willing tackler who can hold up in coverage. And even if he doesn’t earn a starting job on defense, he has a track record of success on special teams. Arizona is obviously hoping he can earn a job as one of the team’s starting safeties, but if he can’t, he could still pan out for the team.
Budda Baker is still in town for the Cardinals, but the job alongside him is wide open. Right now, Dadrion Taylor-Demerson seems to have the inside track, but he wasn’t particularly effective in 2025, meaning Wingard could be the new favorite to land the job. This will likely be an open competition during training camp, but if Wingard can play like he did in 2025, he could end up becoming a very important addition for Arizona this upcoming season.
Cardinals Sign Former Jaguars Starting Safety in Free Agency