Not many times can a team lose their sack-leader and theoretically improve upon their front-seven. However, that may very well be the case for the Arizona Cardinals this season. While Haason Reddick may have taken his talents to Carolina via free agency, the addition of J.J. Watt, the retaining of Markus Golden and the return of Chandler Jones has the team’s pass rush sitting pretty two weeks ahead of the NFL Draft.
Arizona also did its due diligence this offseason to help ensure the services of a far-less heralded, yet still tantalizing talent in linebacker Dennis Gardeck.
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Cardinals Re-Sign LB Dennis Gardeck
The team placed a second-round tender on Gardeck back in March. On Thursday, they announced that he signed his one-year contract which will compensate the former undrafted free agent $3.38 million in 2021.
A special teams captain, the fourth-year pro emerged as a promising defensive presence for the Cardinals this past season. Despite logging just 94 snaps on that side of the ball (his first defensive snaps of his career), Gardeck amassed 7.0 sacks — good enough for second-most on the roster. Over 14 games, the 26-year-old compiled 16 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 10 quarterback hits.
Since joining Arizona in 2018, Gardeck has appeared in 44 career games, netting 1,040 special teams snaps — an average of 77.3% of the team’s special snaps over that span. The Sioux Falls product did tear his ACL against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15 of the season, putting his availability for the start of training camp/preseason in doubt.
Kylie Fitts Returns, Cards Add 5 More Players to the Roster
Following suit with Gardeck, exclusive rights free agent linebacker Kylie Fitts also inked his tender offer. A former sixth-round pick of the Chicago Bears, Fitts appeared in 13 games (one start) with the Cardinals last season and adds extra value on special teams.
Speaking of special teams contribution, linebacker Ezekiel Turner still has yet to sign his offer sheet. The Washington product tied for the team lead in special teams tackles with 15 this past season. He also blocked two punts and hauled in a 26-yard reception on a fake punt for good measure. Furthermore, he’s just two years removed from leading the entire NFL in solo special teams tackles (13).
In other roster news, the team announced the signings of wide receivers Andre Baccellia and Darece Roberson Jr., linebacker Jamell Garcia-Williams, defensive lineman Ryan Bee and running back Tavien Feaster. The new additions help Arizona fill out their 90-man offseason roster.
The Cardinals shared some background on their new signees, via the team’s official website:
- WR Andre Baccellia, who was in camp with the Chiefs and Patriots last season;
- DL Ryan Bee, who played a game with Washington in 2019;
- RB Tavien Feaster, who was on the practice squads of the Lions and Giants last season;
- LB Jamell Garcia-Williams, who was with the 49ers in camp in 2019;
- WR Darece Roberson Jr., who came out of Wayne State in 2019.
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Cardinals Bring Back Second-Leading Sacker & Re-Sign Ex-Bears LB