Jermaine Gresham signs 1-year deal with Cardinals

Tight end Jermaine Gresham has signed a deal with the Arizona Cardinals, the team announced. The two-time Pro Bowler, who spent the first five seasons of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals, agreed to a one-year deal. Financial terms have yet to be disclosed.

The 2010 first-round pick out of Oklahoma has been one of the more consistent and durable tight ends in the league. Gresham has played in 74 of 80 possible regular season games during his career, and has at least 450 receiving yards in each of his five seasons. The 26-year-old enjoyed his best season in 2012, when he was named to the Pro Bowl after setting career-highs in both receiving yards (737) and receptions (64).

Despite his general durability, Gresham sustained a back injury and had to get surgery in March. That kept him on the open market far beyond the length a player of his skill would usually remain. Still, his recovery went well and Gresham started taking visits with teams in late July, with the New Orleans Saints, Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers among the interested teams.

Although he is not much of a downfield threat, (7.4 yards per catch in 2014), Gresham is reliable option on the outside, recording just one drop on 78 targets last season. He also excelled as a blocker last season, ranking as the third-best pass-blocking tight end, according to Pro Football Focus.