For the second offseason in a row, the Arizona Cardinals opted for an intriguing, versatile linebacker prospect atop the NFL draft, landing Tulsa’s Zaven Collins with this year’s 16th overall selection.
While Collins will slide in next to 2020 first-rounder Isaiah Simmons to give the Cards one of the most tantalizing linebacking corps in football, it appears as if the selection will also come at the expense of one of the team’s mainstays at the position in recent years.
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Cardinals to Allow Jordan Hicks to Seek Trade: Report
Jordan Hicks, who tied All-Pro safety Budda Baker for the team lead in total tackles with 118 in 2020, appears to be done in the desert. That is, if he can find himself a suitable destination.
Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on Wednesday, May 12, the Cardinals have given Hicks permission to seek a trade, as the team plans to usurp him from their starting lineup.
“They are going to put [Collins] in essentially as the starting MIKE backer right when he gets there, right when he signs,” Rapoport said on NFL Now. “So that leaves Jordan Hicks a little on the outside looking in.”
“The Cardinals have let Hicks seek a trade, let him go out there and see if there’s another place that will take on his salary and make him the starting linebacker. Difficult to do, but we’ll see if he can do that. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes back there. Becomes a veteran voice, but also a reserve, which no matter where you are in your career is not something that anyone wants.”
Hicks, who signed a four-year, $34 million deal with the Cards back in March 2019, has been a mainstay along the front-seven ever since, starting every game for Arizona over the past two seasons. In 32 games, the Texas product has collected 268 total tackles, four interceptions and 1.5 sacks.
While the numbers are gaudy, he did see his overall play take a sizeable step back in 2020. According to Kevin Patra of NFL.com, the 28-year-old missed 14 tackles and allowed 41 catches in coverage on 57 targets. In return, his overall Pro Football Focus grade divebombed 10.6 points from the year prior and a whopping 24.7 points from his stellar 75.1 mark in 2018 — the season that led to Arizona scooping Hicks up on the open market.
Hicks’ base salary for next season checks in at $2 million with a $1 million roster bonus and another $2 million in incentives based on playing time.
Cards Listed Among Favorites to Acquire TE Zach Ertz
GettyEagles TE Zach Ertz
Arizona has been extremely busy this offseason bolstering its roster. Yet, the NFC West third-place finishers have failed to address the tight end position thus far. Last year’s leading receiver at the position, Dan Arnold, latched on with the Carolina Panthers in free agency, leaving a crapshoot of underwhelming in-house players such as Maxx Williams and Darrell Daniels to man snaps at the position. Again, that is, if the Cardinals don’t ultimately swing for yet another blockbuster move for a player such as Philadelphia Eagles star Zach Ertz.
Bleacher Report’s Paul Kasabian believes the Cardinals are among the two best post-draft landing spots for the Philadelphia Eagles tight end.
Enter Ertz, who would be a great fit in Arizona.
The Cardinals have some dynamic talents in superstar DeAndre Hopkins, electric rookie Rondale Moore and sure-handed Christian Kirk, but they could use someone for short and intermediate routes to move the chains.
That player has been future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald of late, but he hasn’t yet committed to returning to the team after completing his 18th season. Ertz can more or less assume Fitzgerald’s receiving role in that respect as a short-yardage guy/additional safety blanket for Kyler Murray.
As Heavy’s own Mike Greger detailed, Hicks could prove to be a realistic puzzle piece in potentially acquiring the three-time Pro Bowler. The Eagles are in desperate need of linebacker help, and Hicks — originally drafted by Philly in the third round in 2015 — posted 254 combined tackles, seven interceptions and 5.0 sacks for the Birds over his four-year run with the team.
The cherry on top, Ertz’s wife, Julie, grew up in Arizona. It’s almost as if the deal was meant to be.
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Cardinals to Allow Tackle Leader to Seek Trade: Report