The Arizona Cardinals went into the offseason with lots of needs. Funny how that happens after losing 14 games. Certain players were not re-signed and allowed to test the free agency waters.
So, GM Monti Ossenfort went to work. His goal was to find capable athletes to replace the players who didn’t get it done.
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Ossenfort has signed 20 players to date. That is broken down into nine on offense, four on special teams, and seven on defense. And there
will be more signings, but this is just the list after the first wave of free agent signings has settled down.
The second wave will be players whose agents have lowered their financial numbers, guys who have been negotiating with numerous clubs and have been undecided so far, and athletes who have been passed over and are just now getting calls from NFL GMs as team needs begin to dwindle.
Is the 2026 version of the Cardinals better? Did Ossenfort cover every need? What will each new free agent offer the roster?
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Offense
The Cardinals had plenty of offensive needs. Front and center was the offensive line. This group needed a right tackle to replace the departed Jonah Williams and both guards. Running back was also a huge need. It appears that starter James Conner will return from his foot injury, but what version will Arizona see when he gets the gear on?
The offense also needed a third receiver. Both Greg Dortch and Zay Jones filled that role, but were unrestricted free agents, and so far, Ossenfort had not re-signed either.
QB Gardner Minshew (6’-1”, 225 pounds)
Grade: C
The Cardinals needed an experienced backup who would come to training camp and compete for the starting job. They wanted Jimmy Garoppolo, but hit a snag, then shifted straight to Minshew, who has played in 63 NFL games with 47 starts. Suddenly, Arizona has a pair of starting-caliber guys in the QB room.
In today’s NFL, a club must have an experienced backup. Minshew has played seven years in the league with an average completion percentage of 63.1, and his on-target ratio is 74.9%. And he is not a turnover king in that he has thrown just 35 picks and has just six fumbles in the past two seasons. Had a knee injury late last year that will be solved before camp opens.
RB Tyler Allgeier (5’-10”, 225 pounds)
Grade: B-
If Conner returns to the lineup as his old self, then Allgeier will become the complementary running back. But Allgeier is also a guy who can take the offense on his back and pound the rock for 25 carries a game if called upon.Is this signing insurance, or a sign that a new bellcow has arrived in the desert?
Allgeier had a tremendous rookie season with 210 carries for 1,035 yards, and then the Atlanta Falcons drafted Bijan Robinson with the eighth pick in the 2023 NFL draft, and suddenly, Allgeier was relegated to minimal carries and snaps. Allgeier offers excellent ball security and can be a serious Red Zone weapon. Allgeier’s contract looks like pure value for a guy who can start, is a great blocker, an exceptional short-yardage back, and is involved in the receiving portion of the offense.
RB Bam Knight (5’-11”, 210 pounds)
Grade: C-
Every team needs plenty of running backs. Knight will begin the season as RB4 once Trey Benson gets healthy. Teams need solid depth, and he did prove his worth once all of last year’s starters went down one-by-one. If Conner and Benson remain healthy and the addition of Allgeier, Knight will become a regular on special teams coverage teams. If either is hurt again, this will become a good signing.
OG Isaac Feumalo (6’-4”, 303 pounds)
Grade: A
Absolutely a home run. Feumalo fills the left guard spot vacated by one of last year’s problem areas: OG Evan Brown, who struggled this past season. He inked a three-year deal, which means Ossenfort isn’t concerned that Feumalo is 32.
He was the best interior offensive lineman available on this year’s market, and now he is on the Cardinals’ roster. Seumalo allowed a 3.7% pressure rate, which was the lowest of any guard, and had a very good Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade of 74.8. He had zero penalties and only allowed three sacks. Seumalo has been described as “the quiet assassin.”
OT Elijah Wilkinson (6’-6”, 310 pounds)
Grade: C
The Cardinals have an opening at right tackle. Wilkinson was the starting right tackle for the Falcons all of last year and should slide right into this job. In 2025, he started all 17 games for Atlanta with a 62.9 PFF grade. He is coming back to Arizona, where he played in Tempe in 2023.
Wilkinson has improved his game since leaving Arizona, where his pass protection wasn’t the best, and the Cardinals fans and media let him know at the time. But he is a different player now and should be able to solidify the RT spot. Ossenfort did bring him back on a two-year deal, so he is expecting something in return right away. With the team having high draft picks all rounds, most likely a young right tackle will be selected. Most likely, Wilkinson offers quality depth.
OG/OT Matt Pryor (6’-7”, 332 pounds)
Grade: B
Pryor offers versatility in that he can play four positions. His PFF grade last year was a healthy 71.6. He only allowed three sacks, had one penalty, and just four pressures. He should compete with Isaiah Adams at right guard, or could end up at right tackle if the team doesn’t draft one or compete with Wilkinson.
This is a very solid signing. Pryor can either start or provide an optimal backup. He had plenty of game experience with 109 NFL games played with 40 starts. Adams struggled when he was inserted into the starting lineup last year, so this gives the coaching staff a dependable body to insert anywhere along the line (except center) at any time.
TE Teagan Quitoriano (6’-6”, 259 pounds)
Grade: D+
Quitoriano is mainly a blocking tight end. Head coach Mike LaFleur will be installing an offense that uses a lot of two-tight-end sets and will often have three tight ends on the field on obvious running downs. Quitoriano has been in the league for four years and has only had 16 starts with nine receptions for 146 yards, so the offense isn’t expecting much from his receiving production. He played in all 17 games with Atlanta last year with one start.
The tight end room is already pretty full with Trey McBride, Tip Reiman, Rivaldo Fairweather, and Elijah Higgins. Most clubs keep only three tight ends, but with LaFleur, he may retain four instead. Strictly a blocker for the run game and for use on special teams.
WR Kendrick Bourne (6’-1”, 205 pounds)
Grade: C+
The Cardinals needed a third receiver, and Bourne will fill that. The fact that Ossenfort inked him to a two-year deal means they believe he can come in and have good production. He offers veteran leadership and will complement Michael Wilson and Marv Harrison on game days.
His 2025 stats? 16 games played with eight starts, 53 targets, 37 receptions, 551 yards, a 14.9 yards per catch average, zero touchdowns, 27 first down conversions, 165 YAC, and 594 offensive snaps (57%).
Though Bourne doesn’t possess high-end speed, he runs good routes and has a knack for making catches on important downs. He’s tough, he’s a good teammate, and he does well when he gets the looks. He has the opportunity to become a big piece of this new offense.
WR Simi Fehoko (6’-4”, 225 pounds)
Grade: D+
Fehoko was re-signed to a one-year deal and will compete with Bourne for the WR3 spot or solidify the fourth receiver position. He is a good special teams player, which every team needs and should continue to be his value to the roster.
Last year, Fehoko had plenty of injuries, including a broken arm, a concussion, and a sprained ankle. His route running is only mediocre, and he is unable to gain separation. He does possess good size, is tough as nails, but he doesn’t fight for contested balls as he should.
