The one remaining exclusive rights free agent the Arizona Cardinals have is wide receiver Greg Dortch. The other two, linebacker Jesse Luketa and offensive lineman Carter O’Donnell, re-signed with the team for 2024 last month.
According to Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap, the Cardinals fulfilled the procedural task they needed to do to keep Dortch in Arizona another year. They officially tendered him a qualifying offer.
As such, because he has not accrued enough seasons to be a true free agent, his choice is sign the tender, which will pay him $1.13 million in 2024, or not play in the NFL.
Dortch has spent the last three seasons with the Cardinals. Last season, he appeared in 16 games and was the team’s primary punt and kick returner. He averaged 21.2 yards per kick return and 9.5 yards per punt return. He also caught 24 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns. His best receiving season was in 2022 when he had 52 catches for 467 and two scores.
“Greg made a lot of plays before I got here,” general manager Monti Ossenfort said and the NFL combine about Dortch. “Greg made a lot of plays when he got an opportunity. Greg’s a guy who’s always ready to take advantage of whatever opportunity he gets and when he’s taking advantage of those opportunities, he earns more opportunities.
“So, Greg does a great job for us. He’s tough, he’s physical after the catch for a smaller guy. He took a step as a punt returner last year. Greg made a lot of plays for us and he’s going to make a lot of plays for us next year.”
He returns to a receiving unit that has Michael Wilson, Rondale Moore and Zach Pascal under contract for next season, in addition to Andre Baccellia, Kaden Davis, Jeff Smith, Daniel Arias and Dan Chisena, who all signed futures contracts for 2024 after the season.
Marquise Brown is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent.
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