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Cardinals’ Andrew Wingard: Inks one-year deal with Cardinals
Arizona signed Wingard to a one-year, $3 million contract Wednesday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.comreports.
Wingard emerged as a starting option at safety for the Jaguars last year, recording 84 tackles (45 solo), nine passes defensed (including one interception) and one fumble recovery across 16 regular-season appearances, but with the Cardinals in 2026 he stands to operate in a backup capacity behind Dadrion Taylor-Demerson and Budda Baker. If Wingard outperforms expectations on his ‘prove-it’ deal with Arizona, however, he’ll stand to draw increased demand as a free agent in 2027.
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Cardinals’ Trey Benson: Backfield growing crowded
Benson (knee) faces increased competition for touches in 2026 after the Cardinals signed Tyler Allgeier and restructured James Conner’s contract, Darren Urban of the team’s official site reports.
Benson could potentially be the odd man out of a big-bodied 1-2 punch featuring Allgeier and Conner, as Donnie Druin of SI.com reports, though Benson’s big-play potential could make him effective in a change-of-pace role. The 2024 third-round pick had a big opportunity last year following Conner’s season-ending foot injury, but Benson then suffered a meniscus injury in Week 4, ultimately missing the rest of the season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery at the beginning of October. While the exact split of Arizona’s 2026 backfield remains to be seen, Allgeier and Conner have established themselves as more consistent rushers than Benson, who will need to prove his health and then compete for a roster spot under new head coach Mike LaFleur.
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Cardinals’ Bam Knight: Staying with Arizona
Knight is re-signing with the Cardinals on a one-year contract, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Knight was Arizona’s lead runner at one point in 2025, but only after James Conner (foot) and Trey Benson (knee) both suffered season-ending injuries. Conner and Benson still are under contract, now joined by free-agent addition Tyler Allgeier. It doesn’t look good for Knight landing any higher than third or fourth on the depth chart come training camp. He should at least be healthy, having reportedly avoided surgery on the ankle injury that ended his 2025 season in December.
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Cardinals’ Jacoby Brissett: Expected to start over Minshew
Brissett is on track to keep his starting job after the Cardinals settled for Gardner Minshew as their QB addition at the start of free agency, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
The catch is that Arizona still has time this offseason to add a third quarterback to the mix. Multiple reports suggest Minshew will come in behind Brissett on the depth chart, though Brissett hasn’t been informed of any specific plans for the QB roles, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. The 33-year-old Brissett is entering the second season of a two-year contract, after providing competent QB play during a 2025 campaign where not much went right for the Cardinals. They ended up leading the league in pass attempts, but a new coaching staff may not be as quick to abandon the run, even in trailing game scripts. To that end, the Cardinals are signing power runner Tyler Allgeier to challenge James Conner (ankle) and Trey Benson (knee) in the backfield.