Terms: Four years, team did not announce money.
Grade: A-minus. Once he officially signs, Jermaine Gresham will give the Cardinals a veteran anchor in their tight end room. By giving him a four-year contract, Arizona will offset some of Gresham’s salary allowing it to keep one of their emotional leaders for the foreseeable future.
What it means: The Cardinals keep their top tight end from a year ago, when Gresham 37 passes for 391 yards and two touchdowns. And Gresham and quarterback Carson Palmer, who were teammates in Cincinnati in 2010, stay together for at least another season depending on Palmer. For next season, however, Gresham could see his role increase even more than it did from 2015 to 2016. He proved last season he could make catches in the clutch, giving Palmer an option, whether as a safety valve or a primary in his progressions, aside from David Johnson and the wide receivers. Gresham could be poised to have his best season in Arizona since defenses will be keying in on Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald.
What’s the risk: The biggest concern with Gresham is his emotional combustibility. He showed a handful of times that he’s reactive in certain situations. It cost the Cardinals a couple of taunting penalties last season. If Gresham can contain his emotions and avoid letting opposing players draw him into contentious situations, he could be a better asset to the Cards’ offense.
