Downing and his agent, Adam Heller from DeBartolo Sports Management, fielded offers from a dozen teams before Downing signed a free-agent contract with Arizona. Downing is one of 20 rookie free agents the Cardinals signed, and one of three guards.
Downing was a projected late-round pick, but he prepared for not getting drafted. However, he was a second team All-American at Ohio State. The two-year starter at Ohio State graduated from GlenOak High School.
"Honestly, I don't know what happened with not getting drafted," said the 6-foot-4, 305-pounder. "The NFL looks at measurables and they try to boil it down to a science by the way a guy looks. They don't take into account how good a job the guy does and how he just gets the job done. ... This was the worst-case scenario and I'm going with a chip on my shoulder and something to prove. That motivates me.
"I don't know much about Arizona, other than they gave up a lot of sacks last year. A lot of guys on the team are gone and they're putting together a new offensive line with a new head coach (Ken Whisenhunt)."
