3:15pm: Carlson’s two-year contract is worth $4.65MM, says Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
3:05pm: The Cardinals have agreed to terms on a two-year contract with free agent tight end John Carlson, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic first reported this afternoon (via Twitter) that the Cards were “working on a deal” for Carlson, who met with the team yesterday after being released by the Vikings earlier this week.
Carlson, who was also drawing interest from the Jets and Packers, as we heard yesterday, recorded a total of 40 receptions for 387 yards in his two seasons with the Vikings as the team’s second tight end behind Kyle Rudolph. Carlson was said to be considering retirement this offseason after suffering his third concussion during the 2013 season, but decided to continue his playing career.
The 29-year-old can be an effective weapon in a team’s passing game when he’s healthy, but as Tom Pelissero of USA Today notes (via Twitter), Carlson hasn’t really been 100% since the 2010 season. He’ll join an Arizona team that didn’t feature a top receiving threat at tight end during the 2013 season. Rob Housler and Jim Dray led the way in tight end receptions for the club, combining to catch 65 balls.