The Cardinals need to upgrade the roster after a poor 2018 season, and while the No. 1 overall pick awaits in April, first comes free agency. General Manager Steve Keim has significant cap space to use for the first time in his tenure and could be aggressive. We will take a look at each position group in the days leading up to free agency, which begins on March 13.
Free agent primer: Safety
Cap hit of players under contract for 2019 (via OverTheCap.com): Antoine Bethea ($6.4 million); D.J. Swearinger ($4.5 million); Budda Baker ($1.6 million); Rudy Ford ($680,048); Jonathan Owens ($499,000).
Scheduled free agents: Tre Boston
Need: Low
Images of notable safeties scheduled to hit the open market
New York Giants strong safety Landon Collins looks on prior to the NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, in Philadelphia. The Eagles won 25-22. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Houston Texans free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) in coverage during an NFL AFC wild-card playoff football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019 in Houston. Indianapolis won 21-7. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New England Patriots' Chris Hogan, right, catches a touchdown pass in front of Philadelphia Eagles' Rodney McLeod during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 52 football game Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) tries to break the tackle of Detroit Lions defensive back Glover Quin (27) during an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Philadelphia Eagles running back Corey Clement (30) runs for a touchdown as Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back Chris Conte (23) attempts to tackle, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Chad Williams (10) makes the catch as Seattle Seahawks defensive back Earl Thomas (29) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Oakland Raiders defensive back Marcus Gilchrist (31) waits for the snap during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018 in Oakland, Calif. (Greg Trott via AP)
Oakland Raiders free safety Reggie Nelson (27) celebrates during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018, in Santa Clara, Calif. The 49ers defeated the Raiders, 34-3. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Philadelphia Eagles safety Chris Maragos (42) celebrates during a week 6 NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017 in Charlotte, N.C. Philadelphia won 28-23. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Tennessee Titans' Kenny Vaccaro in action during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
New York Giants free safety Curtis Riley (35) intercepts a pass in the end zone against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Minnesota Vikings strong safety George Iloka (23) during an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018. (Rick Osentoski via AP Images)
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Virgil Green (88) is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs safety Ron Parker (38) during the second half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Atlanta Falcons safety Jordan Richards (29) drops into coverage in action against the Washington Redskins on Sunday Nov. 4, 2018 in Landover, Md. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP Images)
Tennessee Titans safety Kendrick Lewis (28) drops into coverage in action against the New York Giants Sunday December 16, 2018 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
Carolina Panthers free safety Mike Adams (29) warms up before the start of a NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in Charlotte, N.C.,Monday, Dec. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Cody Kessler (6) is knocked out of bounds by Washington Redskins strong safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (20) after scrambling for yardage during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Indianapolis Colts strong safety Mike Mitchell (34) after a stop against the New York Giants during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Denver Broncos strong safety Darian Stewart (26) in coverage during a week 16 NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders on Monday, Dec. 24, 2018 in Oakland, Calif. Oakland won 27-14. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Chicago Bears strong safety Adrian Amos (38) in action during an NFL football NFC wild card playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, in Chicago. The Eagles defeated the Bears, 16-15. (Ryan Kang via AP)
San Francisco 49ers strong safety Antone Exum (38) in action during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Los Angeles. The Rams defeated the 49ers, 48-32. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Baltimore Ravens defensive back Eric Weddle (32) jogs to the sideline after a defensive stop during a NFL Wild Card Playoff football game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019. The Chargers beat the Ravens 23-17. (Matt Patterson via AP)
AFC safety Adrian Phillips (31), of the Los Angeles Chargers, during the first half of the NFL Pro Bowl football game Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
Indianapolis Colts strong safety Clayton Geathers (26) runs off the field during the first half of an NFL Divisional playoff football game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs defeated the Colts 31-13. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Philadelphia Eagles free safety Corey Graham (24) in action during an NFL football NFC wild card playoff game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, in Chicago. The Eagles defeated the Bears, 16-15. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Los Angeles Rams free safety Lamarcus Joyner (20) tackles Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup (13) during an NFL divisional football playoff game on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019 in Los Angeles. Los Angeles won 30-22. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Analysis: The Cardinals have some holes to fill at other positions but they are in good shape at safety. Budda Baker is a star and has shown the ability to impact the game in a variety of ways. He can play in the slot, in the box or in center field depending on the game situation.
D.J. Swearinger was claimed off waivers at the end of last year and he is projected to be the other starter. While outspokenness has sometimes gotten Swearinger in hot water, there is no denying his talent. Antoine Bethea will be 35 in 2019 but he had a team-high 133 tackles along with three sacks last year. His cap hit is higher than preferred for a third safety. Ford is a special teams dynamo but did not make an impact defensively last year.
Boston signed right before training camp and put together a solid season. However, the addition of Swearinger could hinder the likelihood of his return. If the Cardinals pinpoint a safety that can cover the slot, they could target him in free agency. Otherwise, they look pretty set at the position and could focus their resources elsewhere.
Notable past free agent safety signings: Boston (2018); Bethea (2017); Tyvon Branch (2016); Yeremiah Bell (2013); James Sanders (2012); Hamza Abdullah (2009); Dexter Jackson (2003); Matt Darby (1996); Andre Waters (1994); Mike Zordich (1989).
