Former Falcons cornerback Robert Alford didn’t stay unemployed long.
Less than two days after he was cut by the Falcons, Alford signed a three-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday, the team announced.
Alford, 30, played six seasons with the Falcons after he was drafted in the second round of the 2013 draft.
The Falcons are scheduled to play at Arizona during the 2019 season.
He was set to make $8.5 million in 2019. The Falcons will take a $1.2 million cap hit with Alford’s release, but create $7.9 million in cap space.
The current Falcons regime had been trying to replace Alford since they arrived and drafted Jalen Collins in the second round of the 2015 draft.
Collins repeatedly was suspended and was released by the team in 2017. He started in Super Bowl LI.
The Falcons want a bigger cornerback who doesn’t commit as many penalties as Alford, who led the team with 12 penalties last season.
Cornerback Isaiah Oliver, who was drafted in the second round last season, appears to be heir apparent at right cornerback.
Damontae Kazee, who played free safety last season for the injured Ricardo Allen, will get a shot to unseat Brian Poole at nickel back.
Alford started 88 games and had 10 interceptions.
He returned an interception of New England’s Tom Brady for a touchdown in Super Bowl LI.
The Cardinals have struggled to find someone to play across from Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson. Last season, they played three different players, and two have since been cut as only Dave Amerson remains on the roster.
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