Cardinals

Defense

As long as talks don’t hit a snag, the Cardinals have their man. Keim has a strong record in the personnel department. It’s been reported that he wanted to draft Adrian Peterson over LT Levi Brown in 2007 and preferred Jay Cutler to Matt Leinart the year before. Taking Keim off the market would make Falcons exec David Caldwell the clear favorite in Jacksonville.

The Cardinals released incumbent DC Ray Horton from his contract on Friday, and will now pursue Bowles aggressively. “Every reason to believe he lands there,” CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora tweeted. Horton left behind an attractive job. The Cardinals have scheme-diverse talent on defense and lots of youth.

He’s expected to land with the Browns. Horton’s release comes after a “boiling hot” and “contentious” reported meeting with first-year GM Steve Keim following Keim’s decision to tab Bruce Arians as head coach instead of Horton.

This was rumored to be in the works ever since Bruce Arians came up as a head-coaching candidate. Bowles has experience with both the 3-4 and 4-3 from his days with Miami (2008-11) and Philadelphia (2012), but this is his first hiring as a DC. He took over for fired Juan Castillo on an interim basis last season with the Eagles. Arizona was one of the more blitz-happy defenses under Horton in 2012 and is certainly better-suited for the 3-4 front. Horton and new Cardinals GM Steve Keim had a “heated exchange” after he was bypassed for Arians as head coach. Horton won’t struggle to find work.

It would be one way for GM Rod Graves to try to save his neck. Whisenhunt is an offensive mind, and it has been the Cardinals’ offense torpedoing the team’s season in 2012. Horton, a terrific defensive coach from the Dick LeBeau tree, could buy Graves one more year of swinging and missing at offensive linemen and quarterbacks. Coming off Sunday’s embarrassing, 58-0 loss to the Seahawks, this Monday might make sense as the day to target for Graves to make the switch.

This essentially confirms a report from the Cleveland Plain Dealer that Heckert is “very unlikely” to follow Andy Reid to Arizona despite multiple unsubstantiated reports to the contrary. Heckert reportedly has other interviews lined up, including one with the Jets. Although Heckert drafted well in Cleveland, he and Mike Holmgren whiffed on the opportunity to land franchise difference-makers such as Julio Jones and Robert Griffin III.

Horton is expected to draw heavy interest league-wide, and may be the favorite to replace his former boss Ken Whisenhunt in Arizona. There were rumors earlier this month that the Cardinals had already had “internal discussions” about replacing Whiz with his top defensive assistant. The Arizona Republic reports Horton is also expected to be a candidate in Buffalo. There’s a strong chance Horton has a new job this time next week.

Horton’s initial interview apparently took place on Monday. Horton also interviewed with the Browns on Tuesday, and will meet with the Bills on Wednesday. Although Andy Reid appears to be the favorite in Arizona, a second interview is a sign Horton is a serious candidate.

Bidwill also said that personnel man Steve Keim is a candidate for the general manager vacancy in Arizona. Keim is held in high regard across the league and seems to be mentioned anywhere there’s an open GM spot. Horton is also highly sought after and has already been rumored to be on the Browns’ head-coaching radar. If he’s going to get a head gig, then it looks like it’s going to be this year. Bidwill added that he will look at both college and professional coaches and doesn’t have a preference in hiring the GM or head coach first.

Brown joined the Redskins’ front office in 2008. Per the team’s website, his charges include coordinating the advance scouting for all future opponents, draft preparation and evaluating all potential free agents. Brown spent seven years with the Bears before landing in Washington.