Grading Every Arizona Cardinals Free Agency Move

The Arizona Cardinals have not exactly been quiet since the tampering period began, though some of GM Monti Ossenfort’s early moves provide more juice to Cardinals fans than others.

It’s not as if positive moves are absent from Ossenfort’s first bout with free agency, but there has been some disappointment, to say the least. Below is a letter grade for each Cardinals signing this free agency; this article will be updated with each subsequent move.

Cardinals Sign RB Tyler Allgeier (Two Years, $12.5M)

Grade: B+

The unfortunate timing of this move’s report (just following Malik Willis’ signing with Miami) may have splattered the move with poor perception, but this is the perfect way to create some insurance behind returning veteran back James Conner, who missed most of 2025 with an injury.

Allgeier is a similar downhill-style runner to Conner with some agility, has excellent ball security, and can be a serious red zone weapon. Allgeier won’t be the starter, but he can fill in the gaps, and can take over if Conner goes down with an injury again. The Cardinals did not have this type of depth option 2025, and that hurt them.

Cardinals Sign QB Gardner Minshew II (One Year, up to $8M)

Grade: D-

The Minshew signing is an ugly symbol of Ossenfort’s failure to secure his top two quarterback options this free agency. Not only did Arizona pass on Willis due price, they could not manage to secure a deal with Rams backup Jimmy Garoppolo after those negotiations reportedly hit a “snag.” Ouch.

Minshew is nearly 30, coming off a knee injury in the back end of 2025. Perhaps if this move was made three or four years ago, he’d be a shot in the arm to a Cardinals fanbase that has been wanting for any amount of excitement or electricity. But Minshew is long-since removed from that genre of play, and has a 17-30 record as a starter.

As a backup, Minshew is serviceable enough — the only factor keeping this signing above an F grade. But beyond the flow and mustache, there no longer lies the same voltage. For $5.75 million and up to potentially $8 million, Minshew is an expensive backup option, incapable of racking up wins as a starter. And if he’s sitting behind Brissett as QB1, he stands for a much larger foundational problem in Arizona.

Cardinals Sign G Isaac Seumalo (Three years, $31.5M)

Grade: A-

Seumalo was quietly the best interior offensive lineman available on the market, and the Cardinals won a bidding war with multiple other teams for his services. He’s been one of the most underrated protectors in the league for some time, and is still proficient in the run game.

Seumalo allowed a 3.7% pressure rate (per Next Gen Stats) in 2025 — the lowest of any guard and the fourth-lowest of any offensive lineman. This is exactly what Arizona needed to replace a struggling Evan Brown.

The only factor preventing this from being an A+ signing is the fact that Seumalo is 32 years old, and has dealt with some nagging injuries and has missed seven games over the past two seasons. A three-year commitment might be a bit rich for a veteran of his caliber, but the Cardinals undoubtedly scored the prize of the interior OL crop this offseason.

Cardinals Return DL L.J. Collier (One year, $2.5M)

Grade: B-

Collier has been a solid depth piece for the Cardinals’ often-struggling defensive front, but he doesn’t do much in terms of moving the needle. He doesn’t fill up the box score, and has been injured for nearly half of his tenure in Arizona.

He did, however, flash a bit in 2024 — his only fully healthy season — with 3.5 sacks and four TFLs. For a cheap one-year commitment, it’s a solid move to bring back some stability and depth. But it’s not one that raises the ceiling of Arizona’s defense, and his track record of missing games could turn it into an empty $2.5 million.

Cardinals Reunite with DL Roy Lopez (Two years, $11.5M)

Grade: C

Lopez is a fan-favorite who played his high school football in the valley and a season of college football with the Arizona Wildcats. He looked to be a rising player, though his tangible results do not show up in the box score. He did seem to have a modest pop in his one-year stint with the Lions, picking up a pair of sacks, five QB hits and four TFLs.

The price is somewhat hefty for a player that does not truly produce, but he did grade out at an above-average rate in 2025, and is a solid run-stuffer. If the Cardinals are high on his ceiling, this could be a bargain, but it feels more like a move intended to bring back vibes and culture more than one that will pay dividends.

Cardinals Sign WR Kendrick Bourne (Two years, $10M)

Grade: A-

The Cardinals’ wide receiver room has been young, underproductive and lacking energy. Kendrick Bourne has the capability to provide veteran experience, more size (sorry, Greg Dortch), and a big-play ability to Mike LaFleur’s offense.

Bourne is familiar with LaFleur from his days in San Francisco, and Brissett from his days in New England. He had 551 yards on just 37 receptions in 2025, and appears to be thrilled to be in Arizona. Bourne is a major upgrade from last year’s WR3 Zay Jones, measures out at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, and can be a veteran leader in a position group full of understated young personalities.

I may be much higher on this deal than some others, but there’s almost no downside if Bourne remains healthy, which is the main concern for the 30-year-old. The Cardinals are now officially in the 21st century with regard to… having three capable wideouts.

Cardinals Sign OL Matt Pryor (One year)

Grade: B+

Pryor is a versatile rotational OL with seven years of NFL experience. He hasn’t exactly been a perennial starter, but he has played in all 17 games in back-to-back seasons, and earned above-average PFF grades in both run-blocking (73.1) and pass protection (71.5). He spent time at every OL spot except center, with the most snaps coming at right guard.

As a versatile veteran, it’s a solid move. But that may change once deal terms are revealed. If he’s cheap, it’s a slam dunk of OL depth.