TEMPE, Ariz. -- It didn’t take Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim long to begin turning over this year’s roster.
On the first day of the second week of organized team activities, Arizona traded out four free agents for four new ones. On Tuesday, the Cardinals announced the signings of offensive tackle Cory Brandon, cornerback Jimmy Legree, wide receiver Kevin Ozier and running back Jalen Parmele. All four participated in the Cardinals’ rookie minicamp last weekend as tryout players.
Arizona released running back Tim Cornett, cornerback LeQuan Lewis, wide receiver Corey Washington and tackle Kadeem Williams to make room for the quartet. All except Lewis were undrafted free agents signed after the NFL draft. Lewis was signed on April 1.
Two of the four signings had NFL experience. Brandon signed with Tampa Bay in 2011 as an undrafted free agent and landed on Chicago’s practice squad in 2012. He suffered ankle ligament damage and a fractured leg during Chicago's final preseason game last season and accepted an injury settlement after the preseason. Parmele returns to the NFL after spending 2008-10 with the Baltimore Ravens and 2012 with Jacksonville, playing in 35 games primarily as a kick returner. He spent the 2013 training camp with Tennessee.
After Tuesday’s practice, coach Bruce Arians said Cornett needed to step up his game.
"Timmy’s got to pick his up a little bit," Arians said.
About five hours later, Cornett was cut.
On Friday, after the first day of rookie minicamp, Arians was disappointed with some rookies who couldn’t pick up the scheme as fast as he had hoped.
"A couple guys caught my eye that may look better in these two practices than the guys who’ve been here for eight days," Arians said Friday. "We’ll swap them. That’s the cold part of the business."