The Arizona Cardinals were not involved in many moves during the first day of free agency, but a few players still joined the roster. With the release of Kyler Murray as the biggest news of their free agency, one important addition flew under the radar Monday.
Arizona Cardinals Sign Kendrick Bourne Away from Division Rival San Francisco
The San Francisco 49ers faced many injuries in 2025. Bourne’s impact in the passing game was bigger than expected, as Brandon Aiyuk and Ricky Pearsall missed significant time. He finished the year with 528 yards, with Jauan Jennings the only receiver to surpass him (643).
He won’t face the same challenges in 2026. Bourne will play in the NFC West, but Cameron Wolfe reported he’ll instead move to Phoenix, joining the Arizona Cardinals on a two-year deal worth $10 million and up to $12 million with incentives.
Cardinals have agreed to 2 – year agreement with WR Kendrick Bourne worth $10 Million with a max value of $12 Million. Deal Negotiated by @HenryOrgann and @Agent_Big_Al of @DisruptiveSport pic.twitter.com/N5zXxisBWj
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) March 9, 2026
Bourne was an unexpected signing for the 49ers in 2025. He joined days before the start of the season, with the New England Patriots releasing him as part of the 53-man cuts. He also played in San Francisco from 2017 to 2020 as an undrafted free agent.
The 49ers were hit with an astonishing number of injuries in 2025. Stars such as George Kittle, Trent Williams, Brock Purdy, Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, and Ricky Pearsall all dealt with health problems at different points of the season, with Brandon Aiyuk not playing the whole year. Bourne was a rare healthy player.
Still, his impact was minimal. He had just 37 receptions for 551 yards, including consecutive 142-yard performances in Weeks 5 and 6.
But from Weeks 10 to 13, he had just one catch. With their stars healthy, Kyle Shanahan isn’t going to miss him; he ranked No. 62 in PFSN’s WR Impact Metric for his efforts in 2025.
Arizona also hopes he won’t be asked to play a key role. The Cardinals spent a top 5 pick on Marvin Harrison Jr. just two years ago, and Michael Wilson has developed into one of the best No. 2 receivers in the league. Bourne will be a depth option to help Jacoby Brissett as the team navigates what promises to be a difficult season.
The Cardinals enter a new era after the release of Kyler Murray and the hiring of Mike LaFleur. It won’t be pretty in 2026, but Arizona hopes that the offseason moves will finally put the franchise on the right track.
