Our latest projections as the Cardinals play a preseason game on Saturday.
The Arizona Cardinals have a preseason game this week as they face the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday at State Farm Stadium. Training camp is coming to an end.
We are closer to when they must trim down their roster to 53 players.
With what we have learned in camp so far, this is a new 53-man roster projection for the Cardinals.
Arizona Cardinals 53-man roster projection: Preseason Week 1
Offense
Quarterback: Kyler Murray, Jacoby Brissett
Running back: James Conner, Trey Benson, Emeri Demercado, DeeJay Dallas
Both positions seem like locks. Barring injury, there doesn’t seem to be any possible movement. Clayton Tune is set for the practice squad and the same goes for Michael Carter, just like last season.
Wide receivers: Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, Zay Jones, Greg Dortch, Simi Fehoko
It sounds like Xavier Weaver needs to show a little more, and the Cardinals can just go with five wideouts to accommodate for the offensive lineman. Fehoko’s salary guarantees keep him here for now.
Tight ends: Trey McBride, Elijah Higgins, Tip Reiman, Travis Vokolek
The only possibility here changing might be keeping only three on the active roster to accomodate for a position somewhere else.
Offensive line: Paris Johnson, Evan Brown, Hjalte Froholdt, Isaiah Adams, Jonah Williams, Kelvin Beachum, Will Hernandez, Jon Gaines, Christian Jones, Hayden Conner
Hernandez isn’t on the team but the belief is that he will be soon. We keep 10 offensive linemen to keep Jones and Conner.
Defense
Defensive line: Calais Campbell, Dalvin Tomlinson, Darius Robinson, Dante Stills, Justin Jones, L.J. Collier
I still expect Walter Nolen and Bilal Nichols to start the season on PUP, so they won’t count toward the 53-man roster, making their additions a future problem.
Outside linebacker: Josh Sweat, Zaven Collins, Baron Browning, BJ Ojulari, Jordan Burch
Ojulari is a guy to watch. He still is on PUP. Could he be traded if healthy? There wasn’t room for Xavier Thomas.
Inside linebacker: Mack Wilson, Akeen Davis-Gaither, Owen Pappoe, Cody Simon, Mykal Walker
This group is probably a lock. Walker is there for special teams.
Cornerback: Garrett Williams, Max Melton, Will Johnson, Kei’Trel Clark, Denzel Burke
Jaylon Jones, being a solid special teams guy, is a player to watch who could move past Clark.
Safety: Budda Baker, Jalen Thompson, Dadrion Tayor-Demerson, Joey Blount
I’m not picking Kitan Crawford over Blount for special teams yet. Blount is still a core guy and Crawford can sit on the practice squad.
Special teams
- P Blake Gillikin
- K Chad Ryland
- LS Aaron Brewer
This group is locked in.
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