SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 24: Linebacker Markus Golden #44 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates after a play against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on December 24, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Arizona Cardinals signing may be a future sign for Markus Golden

The Arizona Cardinals made a veteran addition on Saturday, signing former Atlanta Falcon, Brooks Reed, to a one-year deal. The 31-year old veteran will go from having his hand in the dirt in Atlanta, to standing in Vance Joseph‘s 3-4 scheme.

Brooks Reed is a run stopping linebacker. Outside of a rookie season which saw him post six sacks, Reed has never surpassed the four sack mark in any season.

The addition of Reed signals a change coming for the Cardinals. It shows the team is preparing for a move from Markus Golden, the teams second round pick in their 2015 draft. Golden missed most of the 2017 season when he tore his ACL against the San Francisco 49ers.

He missed five games in 2018, whether he was rehabbing or being shut down by the staff the final two games. It was a lost season for the Arizona Cardinals and Markus Golden.

Enter 2019, and Golden sits as a Free Agent. The Cardinals and Golden have expressed mutual interest in his return, but nothing has come out of either camp as we near a month until Free Agency.

Now the team has signed Brooks Reed as a veteran presence in the linebackers room. The addition of Reed is simply a depth move. His joining does not mean he is here to replace Golden.

It would be foolish of the team to replace a 27-year old talent, for a 31-year old. There are two names that will be the potential names to replace Markus Golden in the desert.

Nick Bosa or Josh Allen.

Bosa is coming off a 2018 season in which ended early after an abdominal injury he suffered. Bosa sits at the top of many pundits draft boards, while Josh Allen sits close behind on most of them.

For Bosa, he would have to transition from a 4-3 Defensive End to a 3-4 Outside Linebacker. Allen would simply be making the jump to the NFL.

Bosa would not have much of a learning curve I would assume. He’s a talented player who will succeed in the NFL.

Josh Allen progressively got better during his tenure at Kentucky. Both guys will draw interest from Arizona, but if the Cardinals stick to big boards across the country, Nick Bosa will ultimately be the guy to replace Markus Golden in Cardinal red.