Arizona Cardinals struck the jackpot. The Cincinnati Bengals’ defense lost a valuable player, Markus Bailey, this week after striking a 1-year contract
At the beginning of the week, the Arizona Cardinals had two offseason defensive openings. On Tuesday, they announced the signing of veteran linebacker and special teams ace Markus Bailey, formerly of the Cincinnati Bengals.
He signed the 1-year contract on Tuesday.
Arizona Cardinals Sign Markus Bailey
Bailey has played in at least sixteen games in each of the previous three seasons. Because of his expansive skill set, availability has not been a major problem for him.
He has now become a member of the inside linebacker’s group, which includes Owen Pappoe, Mack Wilson Sr., Kyzir White, and Krys Barnes.
The signing was announced a few days before the rookie minicamp for the Cardinals begins on Friday. The conditions of the deal have not been disclosed. However, throughout the previous four years, he recorded at least 43% of special teams reps.
The Cardinals Roster is Taking Shape
In the 2021 NFL Draft, the 6-foot, 235-pound linebacker from Purdue was selected by the Bengals in the seventh round of the draft. Bailey established himself as a vital member of the special teams unit but saw less defensive action. The Cardinals should be eager to give him more playing time there.
Bailey was mostly utilized as a special team player throughout his four-year (60-game) time in Cincinnati. He never saw more than 24% of defensive snaps in a single season and never played a significant role in this defense, as Germaine Pratt and Logan Wilson were healthy, while Akeem Davis-Gaither got most of the linebacker snaps off the bench.
However, throughout the previous four years, he recorded at least 43% of special teams reps.
His Bengals Tenure
During his time with the Bengals, Bailey had seventy-three total tackles, two tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, four pass deflections, and one sack.
Throughout his career, he played 387 defensive plays in total, but 256 of those came in 2021. He played just twenty-nine defensive snaps in the previous season. In 2023, he played 950 on special teams out of a total of 309 plays across his four seasons.
The Cardinals have re-signed Krys Barnes and added Mack Wilson Sr. as free agents at the inside linebacker position for this season. Bailey may compete for the special teams or the inside slot, which was left by Ezekiel Turner, who signed with the 49ers as a free agent.
White and Wilson should lead the way inside, with Barnes providing a valuable depth piece. Pappoe adds a top talent choice to the mix. Trevor Nowaske and Tyreek Maddox-Williams complete the group.
On Tuesday, the Cardinals also reportedly brought veteran wide receiver Zay Jones in for a free-agent visit. Jones was recently released by the Jaguars in a salary cap move.
How will Bailey Contribute?
With the NFL’s new kickoff regulations, all eyes will be on the NFL teams and how they will manage their building their roster. With a focus on the new rule, the special teams’ superstar for the Cardinals might provide a significant edge for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals are still adding skilled players who can provide skills to special teams.
The Cardinals are establishing a game plan and analyzing the new kickoff regulations. The new rules will have an impact on who plays on game day and who plays what position. Players that can excel on fourth down will undoubtedly be in high demand – in comes Markus Bailey.
Best of luck to Bailey as he looks to carve out a bigger role in Arizona.