{"id":814803,"date":"2026-03-16T05:10:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T05:10:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/814803\/"},"modified":"2026-03-16T05:10:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T05:10:13","slug":"arizona-cardinals-sign-all-pro-returner-devin-duvernay-to-boost-special-teams-in-one-year-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/814803\/","title":{"rendered":"Arizona Cardinals Sign All-Pro Returner Devin Duvernay to Boost Special Teams in One-Year Deal"},"content":{"rendered":"

AVANDATIMES.COM \u2013 The Arizona Cardinals<\/a> have fortified their special teams unit by securing a deal with veteran wide receiver and return specialist Devin Duvernay<\/a>. According to NFL<\/a> insider Jordan Schultz, the agreement is a one-year contract valued at $2.5 million, marking a significant step in the team\u2019s efforts to revamp their roster during the first week of free agency.<\/p>\n

Schultz broke the news via social media, stating: <\/p>\n

\u201cSources: Former #Bears All-Pro WR\/returner Devin Duvernay is signing with the #Cardinals on a 1-year, $2.5M deal, negotiated by @ErikBurkhardt of @RocNationSports.\u201d<\/p>\n

Strategic Impact on Field Position<\/p>\n

The acquisition of Duvernay is viewed as a direct response to Arizona\u2019s struggles in close-game scenarios last season. AvandaTimes observed that the Cardinals are prioritizing players who can provide a competitive edge in the third phase of the game, an area where they have lacked a consistent threat for several years.<\/p>\n

Schultz highlighted the specific value Duvernay brings to the desert, noting: <\/p>\n

\u201cDevin Duvernay helped flip field position multiple times with the Bears as a returner, helping turn likely losses into wins. Arizona is hoping to get some of that after all the one-possession losses they had last year.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Proven Track Record in the Return Game<\/p>\n

At 28 years old, Duvernay arrives in Arizona with a reputation as one of the league\u2019s most reliable specialists. Originally a third-round selection by the Baltimore Ravens in 2020, he has since spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Chicago Bears. His career statistics include:<\/p>\n

Eight total touchdowns, including two specifically from kick returns.A career average of 9.4 yards per reception as a wideout.Extensive experience as a gadget player in various offensive schemes.<\/p>\n

While the Cardinals\u2019 receiving corps is currently headlined by Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, and Kendrick Bourne, Duvernay provides valuable depth. However, his primary contribution is expected to be as a successor to Greg Dortch in the return game.<\/p>\n

Overhauling the Special Teams Unit<\/p>\n

The signing of Duvernay coincides with a broader restructuring of the Cardinals\u2019 special teams department under new head coach Mike LaFleur. The team recently appointed Michael Ghobrial<\/a> as the new special teams coordinator, replacing outgoing personnel including long-snapper Aaron Brewer.<\/p>\n

Coach LaFleur expressed high confidence in Ghobrial\u2019s leadership, saying: <\/p>\n

\u201cI have great familiarity and regard for him from our time with the Jets and I know he\u2019s only continued to grow stronger as a coach in the subsequent years with the Giants. The enthusiasm he brings is infectious, which is critical for all coaches but especially on special teams. As a team, we will definitely benefit from his energy and experience,\u201d<\/p>\n

With a new coordinator and a proven All-Pro returner now in the fold, the Cardinals are positioning themselves to transform their special teams from a liability into a legitimate weapon for the 2026 season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"AVANDATIMES.COM \u2013 The Arizona Cardinals have fortified their special teams unit by securing a deal with veteran wide…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":796672,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[2078],"tags":[375,390,2604,1327,4692,7,28030,26287,6],"class_list":["post-814803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arizona-cardinals","tag-arizona","tag-arizona-cardinals","tag-arizonacardinals","tag-cardinals","tag-devin-duvernay","tag-football","tag-michael-ghobrial","tag-mike-lafleur","tag-nfl"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116237135198536117","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/814803","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=814803"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/814803\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/796672"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=814803"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=814803"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=814803"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}