A former Arizona Cardinals draft pick will not be retained and will be a free agent when the new league year begins next week.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Baltimore Ravens informed cornerback Christian Matthew, a restricted free agent, that he would not be tendered a qualifying offer. That means, when free agency begins on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, he will be an unrestricted free agent.
Matthew, drafted by the Cardinals in the seventh round in 2022, spent the season on injured reserve for the Ravens, giving him his third accrued season in the league.
The Ravens could have tendered him a qualifying offer that would have paid him more than $3 million, but considering he has appeared in only six games after his rookie season, it would not have made sense to do so.
Now he will be free to sign with any team he wants.
While he was with the Cardinals, he appeared in 18 games, starting three, and totaled 20 tackles and three pass breakups.
Since he was released by the Cardinals in 2023, he has spent time with the Chicago Bears, where he appeared in in two games and played 14 special teams snaps.
The 6-2, 197-pound corner hopefully can find a spot this offseason to compete for playing time to continue his NFL career.
