In an unexpected move on Thursday, the Arizona Cardinals decided to cut bait with cornerback David Amerson, releasing him into the NFL’s free agent pool.
Not many people expected Arizona to make this move considering the team’s lack of depth in the secondary. Amerson was expected to be a starter in the Cardinals’ defense next season while Patrick Peterson serves a suspension for the first six games of the season.
Instead, the Cardinals decided that they preferred to release the veteran cornerback and clear way for younger players such as rookie Byron Williams to start during Peterson’s absence.
Robert Alford, who the Cardinals signed to a three-year deal in the offseason, is expected to start in the other cornerback slot next season.
Amerson will surely be a serviceable find for whichever team picks him up after his release. While he is not a superstar, the North Carolina State graduate had started 5 games for the Cardinals after they signed him in the middle of last season. He’s spent six seasons in the NFL, compiling a total of 234 tackles and 9 interceptions.
Now, Amerson will look to the free agent market for a new team and the Cardinals to look to their younger options at cornerback to take the veteran’s place.
