What are the Cardinals position battles to watch this training camp?

There’s one thing synonymous with training camp: position battles.

And for the Arizona Cardinals, there are plenty to keep tabs with camp getting underway this week.

A closer look at the biggest battles shaping up this camp:

Cardinals training camp position battles

10. Return specialist

Bam Knight vs. Max Melton vs. Kitan Crawford

When Devin Duvernay inked his contract with Arizona this free agency, he automatically went to the top of the list of return options.

He figures to be the primary option for the Cardinals this year.

The guy next to him, though, is still undecided.

Special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial dropped a few hints this offseason, mentioning Kitan Crawford and Max Melton as potential options for the role.

I’m looking elsewhere.

Arizona’s running backs room got some major upgrades in Jeremiyah Love and Tyler Allgeier coming to town this offseason.

The additions also created a logjam in the room, with James Conner, Trey Benson and Bam Knight still under contract.

The last spot in the room is going to come down to versatility in other areas, and that’s where Knight comes in.

A fill-in starter last year, Knight also showed off his kick-returning abilities.

Only Greg Dortch, who is now with the Detroit Lions, saw more returns (31) last year than Knight (12).

He’s a name to watch for sure.

9. Running back

Tyler Allgeier vs. James Conner

If the last section didn’t drill it into your brain, the Cardinals’ running backs room is stacked.

Love is RB1. Let’s end that conversation now.

And while RB2 seems like Allgeier’s job to lose, Conner sticking around on a restructured deal keeps him in the picture for now.

The Cardinals’ plans could become evident right away depending on the pecking order at camp.

Allgeier thrived in a complementary role in Atlanta behind Bijan Robinson. Why not follow that blueprint with another potential generational talent getting the rock in Love? There are worse ways to get a rookie running back acclimated to the NFL. Having a veteran like Allgeier to lean on could do wonders for Love’s development and confidence.

Arizona clearly wants to move in a new direction at the position given the moves this offseason.

If the room gets out of training camp healthy, dealing Conner or Trey Benson is very much a possibility.

8. Defensive line

Andrew Billings vs. Roy Lopez

The 6-foot-1, 340-pound Billings takes the cake for the biggest dude at practice and has 90 starts under his belt across eight seasons.

He’s got a shot to make some noise along the interior. That is unless Roy Lopez has something to say about it.

Lopez has plenty of familiarity in defensive coordinator Nick Rallis’ system, having started 21 of 30 games played from 2023-24.

The hometown kid out of Tempe and Mesquite High School was an underrated bright spot along the interior before he left for Detroit in 2025.

With Walter Nolen III and Darius Robinson expected to take over starting roles, that leaves one up for grabs.

Heading into camp, that looks like Lopez’s spot.

7. Inside linebacker

Cody Simon vs. Jack Gibbens

It didn’t take long for Simon to get thrown into the mix last year after a season-ending injury to Mack Wilson Sr.

Those reps, while inconsistent at times, were huge in Simon’s continued development and could help him lock down a starting role opposite Wilson in Year 2.

But unlike last year, there’s some veteran competition to deal with in Gibbens.

Coming off one of his best seasons as a pro, the linebacker registered a sack, 81 tackles, four passes defensed and a forced fumble in 17 games (eight starts) for the New England Patriots last year.

In his four NFL seasons, he’s started 28 of 46 career games.

This battle could be a tight one throughout camp, especially with Simon’s expected Year 2 jump.

6. Edge rusher

BJ Ojulari vs. Zaven Collins vs. Baron Browning vs. Jordan Burch

Collins figures to be the guy opposite Josh Sweat once again thanks to his versatility and knowledge of the system.

But given the lack of production in the room outside of Sweat, the conversation is far from over.

Arizona needs someone to step up as a legit pass-rushing threat who isn’t named Sweat.

Ojulari had the makings of a starter a couple years back before a catastrophic knee injury in training camp ruined that thinking.

If he can get back to that, Ojulari has the traits to make an impact.

Burch, meanwhile, just needs more reps. He’s got the athleticism and size to hang with just about anyone. He just needs to put it all together when his number is called.

Then there’s Browning. The veteran hasn’t had the impact general manager Monti Ossenfort envisioned when he traded for the pass rusher in 2024.

He made seven starts last year but will need to fend off the youngsters to stay in that role.

5. Safety

Rabbit Taylor-Demerson vs. Andrew Wingard

With Jalen Thompson no longer calling Arizona home, there’s a massive role up for grabs opposite Budda Baker.

Taylor-Demerson should get first crack at locking that down. He’s earned the trust of Rallis to slide into that role pretty seamlessly even if he’s only logged six starts in two seasons.

Wingard, however, is going to be part of the equation.

He’s coming off one of his most productive seasons as a pro last year behind 84 tackles, an interception, nine passes defensed and a QB hit in 16 starts.

Seeing Wingard in three-safety sets and on special teams feels like a given. Taylor-Demerson, however, is trending toward an every-down role.

4. Right tackle

Elijah Wilkinson vs. Josh Fryar

Opting against a first-round offensive tackle prospect this offseason, Arizona is hoping Elijah Wilkinson can step up from his prior stint with the franchise.

After serving as an interior option in 2023, he’s preparing to move outside to right tackle after doing so for Atlanta last year.

With no other veteran options at the position, it’s truly his job to lose.

His biggest competition is 2025 undrafted free agent Josh Fryar, who started five of 12 games last year due to injuries.

If someone is going to challenge Wilkinson for the starting role, Fryar is the best bet.

3. Cornerback

Denzel Burke vs. Starling Thomas V vs. Max Melton

Melton is a 2024 third-round pick.

Thomas was a projected starter last year before a torn ACL.

Neither, however, lead the CB2 conversation heading into camp.

That spot belongs to Burke, who was among the most underrated Cardinals last year with team highs in interceptions (three) and passes defensed (11).

He has more than earned the right for first-team looks right away in camp after fighting his way up the depth chart.

That’s not to say it’s not going to be competitive, with the cornerbacks room showcasing some serious depth. Arizona’s running backs room gets a lot of talk for its depth, but don’t count out the CBs room.

2. Right guard

Isaiah Adams vs. Chase Bisontis

This competition took a serious hit on Tuesday with the news of Adams’ arrest on multiple gun charges in Canada.

He is expected to be at camp, but it’s unclear how his arrest will impact things.

A training camp standout one year ago before a mixed bag of a season, Adams entered the offseason as the projected starting right guard.

But once Arizona brought in Bisontis in the second round of the draft, all bets were off.

Adams has a head start behind 16 starts in 32 career games, but if Bisontis can get up to NFL speed, it feels like only a matter of time before the rookie slides into the starting lineup.

How he fares this camp is going to say a lot about that timeline.

1. Quarterback

Jacoby Brissett vs. Gardner Minshew II vs. Carson Beck

Surprised? You shouldn’t be.

Brissett may have reported for training camp on Wednesday, but with him and the team still at an impasse on a new contract that pays the quarterback as the team’s starter, the door is open for either Minshew or Beck.

A hold-in is expected, and the more time Brissett isn’t running with the first-team offense, the more that door opens. If that’s the case, Minshew and Beck will get even more reps with Arizona’s top playmakers.

Just how long are the Cardinals willing to negotiate with a veteran quarterback who isn’t in their long-term plans? The two sides reportedly agree he deserves a raise, yet the stalemate continues.

If Brissett gets a deal done soon, he’s back to being the expected Week 1 starter.

But if this thing drags out and Minshew or Beck show enough in Brissett’s absence, the thinking could end up shifting to getting the veteran off the team.