Braylon Edwards to the Cardinals: Desert Air Would Do Edwards Lots of Good

Braylon Edwards is about to make the toughest decision of his career: where to play next season.

The talented wideout is the best wideout left in this summer's wild free-agent pool, and there are plenty of teams who have come calling to bring him into the fold. But of all the clubs who have expressed an interest in acquiring the talented 28-year-old, he might be best suited taking a trip into the desert to find his new home. 

The Arizona Cardinals have repeatedly expressed interest in grabbing the talented wideout as this summer has progressed, as head coach Ken Wisenhunt looks to build a contender to keep superstar wideout Larry Fitzgerald in the desert.

In those plans, he's been scouring the free-agent pool to find the second wideout the team needs to thrive, and Edwards fits the bill perfectly. 

No one would deny that the former Jets standout isn't talented; throughout his career, the former first-round pick has displayed a unique blend of size, speed and athleticism that has made him one of the most physically gifted wideouts in the sport.

He has the uncanny ability to get open and get his hands on the football in the flat or downfield, and he would be the perfect target to pair with Larry Fitzgerald in the desert. 

Edwards would immediately prevent clubs from double-teaming the talented Fitzgerald, and he would thereby open up myriad options for new Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb. He gives the team the secondary weapon it needs, and his ability to stay healthy makes him a noticeable upgrade over previous second receiver Steve Breaston. 

He would give Arizona the kind of dominant offense the Cardinals had with Kurt Warner at the helm; laden with weapons in the passing game and ready to put up big numbers on opposing defenses. Sure, he doesn't fix the Cardinals' shoddy defense, but they nearly won a Super Bowl on offense alone, didn't they?

But we all know that, for all his gifts, Edwards has struggled at times in his career, thanks to his shaky hands. He has a penchant for dropping passes, particularly when he's got the pressure of being the go-to guy on his shoulders. In Arizona, with Fitzgerald on the roster, Braylon won't have to worry about that anymore.

He can focus on being himself, and if he drops a couple of passes per game, it's not the end of the world. He'll break off a few big-gain receptions, and become the elite No. 2 receiver he was destined to be from the beginning. 

Edwards goes a long way towards making Arizona the dominant force in the NFC West. Their offense would immediately improve, and in a division featuring clubs like the Seahawks and 49ers, they would be the heavy favorites to win the division, even with the Rams improving as well. 

Sure, he could work in Philadelphia, where Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson are capable of hiding his mistakes, but does he really want to put up with brutal Eagles fans when he drops a pass? Likewise, he could stick in Minnesota, but with the Vikings' messy quarterback situation, why risk it? 

The fact of the matter is that, with Kevin Kolb under center and Larry Fitzgerald on the other side of the line, Arizona provides an ideal landing place for Braylon Edwards and his shaky hands. He comes into a low-pressure environment where he can thrive, and rack up big games drawing defenders off of his talented teammate. 

It's the right move for Edwards and the Cardinals, and he would turn them into playoff contenders immediately. He's a talented wideout, but one who could use a bit of protection from a guy like Fitzgerald, and in the end he gives the Cards what they need while getting the ideal situation in which to ply his craft. 

If that's not a smart move, I don't know what is.