During training camp, there were several Arizona Cardinals cornerbacks who were on the mend from various injuries and ailments. But the consensus was that this position group was on the verge of being one of the league’s finest.
Which was a huge requirement. Because Arizona resides in the most difficult division in the NFL, the NFC West, the defensive backfield is expected to be battle-tested each and every week. Great quarterbacks and even better receivers dot each roster in the division.
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WHERE IS THE CARDINALS PASS RUSH?
Will Johnson has shown that he can become one of the best cornerbacks in the division as well as in the league. Last year, Denzel Burke, proved his worth when he was thrust into the starting lineup; the experience of Garrett Williams was apparent, and Max Melton had games where he showed he belonged, although his play is more summed up as a roller coaster.
However, in the Week 2 matchup against division foe Seattle Seahawks, Johnson suffered a neck injury in the loss and later was added to IR. It now looks like he could be gone for the remainder of the season. Which is a huge, huge loss to this defensive backfield.
Burke has filled in for Johnson while Melton has been added to the starting lineup with Williams in the slot. Starling Thomas was brought up from the practice squad, and the team is now dependent on Kei’Trel Clark and Kalen King as key backups.
But this cornerback group has shown anything but consistency in being able to stop an opposing offense’s passing attack. You might even say this group is in trouble.
Part of the reason is not only the loss of Johnson, who was this defense’s best cornerback, but also having to shuffle guys around into different positions. Plus, it is a very young room. Williams has the most games played, with 36 NFL games and 27 starts. But all of the other corners have minimal game experience.
Another issue is that the defensive front four is not getting a good pass rush, which means opposing quarterbacks are being given ample time to survey the field and wait for guys to complete their routes. The inability of the defensive line to collapse the pocket makes it harder for the cover guys to continue to shadow their guy, and opposing receivers have been open all day long in all three games.
Not to mention, a guy like Burke should have been brought along gradually after being taken in the fifth round in last year’s NFL Draft. Instead, he was thrust into the starting lineup last year, which has carried over into 2026. In the above clip, Burke bit on the early wiggle by WR Mike Evans, but had the speed to catch up. However, he never even looked back at the ball. If he had looked back when Evans did, Burke could have swatted the ball away and possibly intercepted the pass. Instead, it was six for San Fran, which was the difference on the scoreboard at the final gun.
After just three games, the Cardinals are allowing more yardage through the air with each contest. In Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers, QB Justin Herbert threw for 209 yards with a single touchdown and one interception by safety Andrew Wingard. Against the Seahawks, the backup quarterback, Drew Lock, threw for 235 yards and tossed three touchdowns against zero interceptions. After a 7-7 halftime score, Lock found receivers open all day long in the second half. In this past weekend’s division matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, QB Brock Purdy threw for 297 yards, connected on four touchdowns, again with zero interceptions.
That equates to seven touchdowns through the air in two straight games without any picks. Is anyone paying attention?
This season will be over very soon if this is not addressed. Opposing quarterbacks are being given way too much time without a valid pass rush, and the defensive backs are not able to keep running with receivers who can change their routes, wave their arms, and be wide-ass open.
Is anyone paying attention?
So, what is the answer? Keep doing what they’re doing and expecting Burke, Williams, and Melton to take care of business?
Or maybe sign a free agent? What about a trade? Johnson ain’t coming back this year, which means their best cornerback is gone. If the Cardinals truly want to salvage this year, they have got to bring in a seasoned veteran.
Let’s start with the trade angle first. The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a contract dispute with their starting cornerback, Joey Porter Jr. (6’-2”, 193 pounds). He believes he is an elite corner and should be paid as such. Pittsburgh views him as just an above-average guy who hasn’t even sniffed a Pro Bowl. Porter has yet to suit up for the Steelers this year, even though he has been completely healthy each week.
Porter was taken in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft and was named to the NFL “All-Rookie Team” after being a First Team All-Big 10 selection in his final year at Penn State. His father was an NFL player, so he’s got pedigree. Pittsburgh signed Porter to a four–year, $9.61 million deal that included $8.99 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $3.99 million.
Which means Porter is in his contract year. He had 43 total tackles as a rookie, 70 in his second season, and 52 last year. He has 3 career tackles for loss, 0 QB hits, 1 sack, 31 batted passes, 3 interceptions, 1 hurry, 2 pressures, and 17 missed tackles.
Do any of these stats scream elite? What they do say is that Porter is an above-average cornerback who is aggressive, has speed, has no issue in the run-defense game, and is around the ball a lot, but his missed tackles are an issue.
If the price is right, it is assumed that the Steelers would be all ears. They don’t believe he will suit up for them this year at all, period. He could step in that first week after arriving in the desert and take Johnson’s place. As Pittsburgh is preparing to face their second straight divisional game against the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football, Porter Jr. was listed as a full participant on the Steelers’ injury report for the first time this season.
The trade issue may be that the Steelers view Porter Jr., age 26, as more valuable than his production has been so far as an NFL player. If their wish list is a first-or second-round pick for the disgruntled cornerback, then they may just have to keep him. But perhaps a third-round pick may entice them to allow him to leave.
As far as scouring the free agent market, the list has been picked over pretty well.
Trevon Diggs (6’-1”, 203 pounds) leads the list. He is 29 years old so he has some years left in him. His last contract was for $19.4 million, but is currently on the Dallas Cowboys practice squad making $13,750 a week. Sean Murphy-Bunting (6’-0”, 195 pounds), age 29, has seven years of experience and was paid $4.45 million in his last gig with the Cardinals. He is on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad. Kader Kohou (5’-10”, 197 pounds) is the last of the top cornerback prospects who was paid $3.26 million. He currently resides on the practice squad of the Kansas City Chiefs.
All practice squad players are available to every NFL club at all times. With all three of these candidates, all the Cardinals have to do is make a roster claim and then add him to the 53-man roster (after dropping a player).
The current cornerback cast is struggling. Each game, the opposing QB increases his total passing yards and touchdown throws. The status quo is not an option.
