The Cardinals reacted quickly to the loss of Starling Thomas by signing former UFL cornerback Keni-H Lovely. This comes on the heels of former UFL CB Steven Gilmore Jr. signing with the team yesterday. The Cardinals already lost Sean Murphy-Bunting for the season in May. These new signings inject a much-needed veteran presence into a young and raw cornerback room.
Lovely was an undrafted free agent for the Buffalo Bills in 2024. After not making the team’s 53-man roster, he appeared in nine games for the Michigan Panthers and even recorded a pick-six. Gilmore appeared in three games with the Detroit Lions in 2023 before making a stint with the Birmingham Stallions. In 11 UFL games, including one playoff game, he recorded an interception and a forced fumble.
While neither of these players are earth-shattering signings, they will play an important role for a budding Cardinals defense. 2024 draftee Max Melton and 2025 second-round pick Will Johnson are currently listed as the team’s top boundary corners. Melton played nearly 600 snaps last season, but PFF graded him near the bottom of all NFL corners. Meanwhile, Johnson faces major injury concerns coming out of college; Lovely and Gilmore will push these young players to improve their game and stay hungry.
Arizona Could hit the Trade Block for Answers
The Cardinals will have a tough season ahead; the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks both revamped their rosters, while the Los Angeles Rams brought in superstar Davante Adams. Nonetheless, the Cards were in the divisional race late into the season in 2024. Knowing how competitive this group of players can be, General Manager Monti Ossenfort should consider a substantial trade to improve the cornerback position.
Perhaps the best available option is Cleveland Browns standout Greg Newsome II. Alex D’Agostino of si.com cites the organizational unrest that is plaguing the Browns right now as an opportunity for Ossenfort to pounce. The Cardinals could offer some immediate financial relief to Cleveland while acquiring a low-risk, high-reward veteran.
“Newsome is still only 25 years old with plenty of physical talent. Arizona may prefer a more veteran player to join this young group, but Newsome could be one of the best options on the trade block from an objective talent perspective,” said D’Agostino
Newsome struggled mightily last season, ranking 177th of 222 NFL cornerbacks according to PFF. There is hope, however, that 2024 was just a down year as Newsome posted above-average PFF grades of 69.1 and 75.8 in 2022 and 2023.
Ossenfort may want to see what he has in such a young defense, but it is also his job to field the best possible team, and Newsome could help him do just that.
Pressure Continues to Build in Glendale
Ossenfort and Head Coach Jonathan Gannon were already under pressure to build a winning roster, and while injuries make things harder, there are no excuses in the NFL.
Owner Michael Bidwill will expect his staff to find ways to win, especially after the flashes shown last season. Ego will also play a role; the Rams won the Super Bowl in 2021, and the 49ers have won the NFC Championship game since the Cardinals last appeared in the playoffs.
The temperature will only continue to rise for Ossenfort and Gannon, and 2025 could prove to be a make-or-break season, injuries or not.
Cardinals Invest in UFL Talent to Shore up Injury Riddled Cornerback Room