The Cardinals are safety D.J. Swearinger’s third NFL stop and they don’t want to let him move on to a fourth without a say in the matter.
The team announced that they have tendered Swearinger a contract as a restricted free agent. Multiple reports peg the tender as the lowest, which comes with the right to match any offer Swearinger might get from another team but doesn’t return compensation to the player’s previous team.
Swearinger, who would make $1.671 million under the tender, was a 2013 second-round pick in Houston who got released last May after making 22 starts in his first two seasons. He went to the Buccaneers for seven games to start last season and then landed in Arizona on waivers. He started once in the final four games, made seven tackles and forced a fumble. He gained a reputation as an undisciplined player in Houston, but the Cardinals liked what they saw enough to keep him in the mix for a spot.
Wide receiver Jaron Brown was tendered as well and reports say it’s also at the lowest level. Brown had 11 catches for 144 yards and a touchdown last season and figures to remain an option at the back end of a good receiving corps.
Defensive tackle Josh Mauro and tight end Ifeanyi Momah were also tendered contracts as exclusive rights free agents.