GLENDALE — Mike LaFleur is not wasting any time reshaping the Arizona Cardinals in his image. The Cardinals signed former All-Pro return specialist Devin Duvernay to a one-year, $2.5 million contract Monday morning. This move adds a proven spark plug to a roster that has undergone a total transformation since the team parted ways with quarterback Kyler Murray earlier this offseason.
Speed in the Desert: The Duvernay Factor
The desert heat is already rising, and the Cardinals’ front office is keeping pace. Duvernay arrives in Arizona after a resurgent 2025 campaign with the Chicago Bears. While his offensive snaps were limited, he remained a nightmare for opposing punters. Duvernay finished last season with 1,069 kickoff return yards, the fifth-most in the NFL. His 26.7-yard average on kickoffs proved he still possesses the elite vision that earned him All-Pro honors in Baltimore.
Cardinals fans likely remember Duvernay’s most iconic moment from last November. With the Bears trailing the Vikings and only 50 seconds remaining, Duvernay tore through the coverage for a massive return into Minnesota territory. That run set up Cairo Santos for a walk-off field goal. Arizona, a team plagued by one-possession losses last year, desperately needs that kind of field-position magic.
“Devin is a pure playmaker. He changes the math for a special teams coordinator the second he touches the grass. We wanted guys who compete on every blade of turf, and he’s exactly that.”
— Mike LaFleur, Cardinals Head Coach
Reshaping the Wide Receiver Room
Duvernay joins a wide receiver group that looks vastly different than it did six months ago. The team recently locked up Kendrick Bourne on a two-year, $12 million deal to provide veteran leadership. With Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson expected to carry the primary offensive load, Duvernay slots in as a high-end depth piece and the presumed primary returner. He likely takes over the role vacated by Greg Dortch, who remains on the open market.
The transition to the LaFleur era has been swift. With Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew currently topping the depth chart, the focus has shifted to building a physical, disciplined unit. Duvernay’s arrival signals that the Cardinals are prioritizing elite special teams play to support their new-look offense. The front office still holds significant draft capital, and many league insiders expect Arizona to target a young quarterback or additional offensive line help in the coming weeks.
