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NFL free agency, 2018: Biggest winners and losers from day one

By Peter Panacy

LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 12: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins talks with quarterback Sam Bradford #8 of the Minnesota Vikings after the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Washington Redskins 38-30 at FedExField on November 12, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 12: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins talks with quarterback Sam Bradford #8 of the Minnesota Vikings after the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Washington Redskins 38-30 at FedExField on November 12, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 24: Free safety Tyrann Mathieu #32 of the Arizona Cardinals walks off the field following the NFL game against the New York Giants at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Arizona Cardinals won 23-0. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 24: Free safety Tyrann Mathieu #32 of the Arizona Cardinals walks off the field following the NFL game against the New York Giants at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Arizona Cardinals won 23-0. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Loser: Arizona Cardinals

Like the Jets, the Arizona Cardinals were also hoping to get in on the Kirk Cousins sweepstakes. But they were one of those teams in salary cap hell entering NFL free agency, and it’s highly unlikely they would have been able to make it work even if Cousins wanted to come to the NFC West.

Instead, the Cardinals had to settle for quarterbacks Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon.

When healthy, Bradford can be a solid signal-caller. He’s accurate and always makes solid reads. The problem, of course, is he can never stay healthy. Only twice, 2010 and 2012, has Bradford been on the field for the entirety of a 16-game season.

And with Arizona’s offensive line ranking 25th in pass protection last year, per Football Outsiders, you get the idea.

Remember those cap issues? Well, they led to the Cardinals having to cut safety Tyrann Mathieu, who was one of the anchors of a still-good defense. That’ll hurt, especially considering how many needs the Cardinals have on both sides of the ball.

Sure, Arizona is starting what looks to be a long-term rebuild. But 2018 isn’t going to be a year to remember.