ARIZONA CARDINALS

Mapping out the Arizona Cardinals’ roster ahead of camp

Jul 18, 2017, 5:24 AM | Updated: 12:37 pm

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) points to wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) after...

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) points to wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) after a touchdown catch during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Cardinals insider Mike Jurecki breaks down the Arizona Cardinals’ roster by position before training camp begins.

Projected starters

WR-TE: Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown, Jaron Brown, Jermaine Gresham/Troy Niklas

OL: D.J. Humphries, Mike Iupati, A.Q. Shipley, Evan Boehm, Jared Veldheer

RB: David Johnson

DL: Frostee Rucker, Corey Peters, Josh Mauro/Robert Nkemdiche

LB: Markus Golden, Deone Bucannon/Haason Reddick, Karlos Dansby, Chandler Jones

DB: Patrick Peterson, Justin Bethel, Tyrann Mathieu, Tyvon Branch/Antoine Bethea

LS: Aaron Brewer

K: Phil Dawson

P: Matt Wile

Roster Breakdown

QUARTERBACKS (4)

Carson Palmer: Entering the 15th year of his career, he threw 26 touchdowns and 14 interceptions last year.

Drew Stanton: Proven to be one of the better backup quarterbacks in the NFL with his career 8-5 record (6-3 with the Cardinals).

Blaine Gabbert: Will need a good showing and could be the third quarterback on the active roster.

Trevor Knight: Depending on how many quarterbacks they keep, the undrafted free agent is a practice squad option.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (15)

Tony Bergstrom: Veteran center/guard who has played 40 games.

Evan Boehm: A fourth-round pick (2016) who started three games at right guard, Boehm was drafted as a center. He played starting right guard during OTAs.

Lucas Crowley: Undrafted free agent center from North Carolina.

Will Holden: Drafted in the fifth round from Vanderbilt, he has great size and could be the future swing tackle or starter.

D.J. Humphries: 2015 first-round pick expected to start at left tackle.

Mike Iupati: Needs to remain healthy, as he played through injuries last year.

Ulrick John: Will compete with Holden as a swing tackle. Good size but must become stronger.

Dorian Johnson: A third-round draft pick (2017) and could be the future right or left guard.

Kaleb Johnson: Guard who signed a futures contract in January and is eligible for the practice squad.

Jonathan McLaughlin: Undrafted free agent tackle from Virginia Tech.

Daniel Munyer: Signed futures contract. Can play center and guard.

Givens Price: Spent most of the season on the practice squad.

Cole Toner: Drafted from Harvard last year, he provides depth but must gain strength.

Jared Veldheer: Making the switch to right tackle, it’s also a big year for him contract-wise.

John Wetzel: Can play all four positions but must settle on one.

RUNNING BACKS (6)

Andre Ellington: As a utility player getting reps at wide receiver before being moved back to running back, Ellington will need to make the roster.

David Johnson: Ran for 1,239 yards with 16 rushing touchdowns. 879 yards receiving and four touchdowns.

T.J. Logan: Drafted in the fifth round from North Carolina and is expected to be the kick-returner. He also provides depth at running back.

Elijhaa Penny: Big back that needs to find a role on the Cardinals’ offense, Penny was too heavy last year at 250 pounds. He’s down to 235.

James Summers: Undrafted free agent from East Carolina.

Kerwynn Williams: Over the last couple years has proven that he’s worthy of a roster spot.

WIDE RECEIVERS (13)

Carlton Agudosi: Undrafted free agent with good size (6-foot-6, 220 pounds), he’s a practice squad option.

Jaron Brown: The MVP at training camp last year is coming off a torn ACL.

John Brown: Dealt with an illness last year but expected to return at full strength.

Marquis Bundy: Was arrested in the offseason and will need to make the roster.

Larry Clark: Undrafted free agent from Colorado State-Pueblo.

Aaron Dobson: The 2013 second-round pick by the Patriots has an opportunity to make the roster.

Larry Fitzgerald: Returns for one more season; could this be last season before he’s headed to the HOF?

Brittan Golden: Provides depth and plays on special teams.

Krishawn Hogan: Undrafted free agent from Marian. He’s a practice squad option.

Chris Hubert: Speedy wide receiver and needs to win one of the return jobs.

J.J. Nelson: An improved player that gives the Cardinals a deep threat.

Jeremy Ross: Added to the roster late in the year and must earn a roster spot.

Chad Williams: Third-round pick and if he played in power five conferences, could have been higher.

TIGHT ENDS (6)

Jermaine Gresham: The expected starter caught only 37 passes for 391 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Ifeanyi Momah: Placed on injured reserve last year and possesses raw talent.

Troy Niklas: Second-round pick in 2014 with freak injuries and hasn’t lived up to expectations.

Ricky Seals-Jones: The undrafted free agent from Texas A&M played wide receiver in college.

Hakeem Valles: Will need to earn a roster spot and improve on special teams.

Steven Wroblewski: Undrafted free agent from Southern Utah (6-foot-7, 252 pounds).

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (10)

Rodney Gunter: He’s expected to rotate with Nkemdiche and Pierre and is a former starter.

Josh Mauro: Signed contract extension in offseason and is one of most underrated players on roster.

Robert Nkemdiche: The first-round pick (2016) with a disappointing season is expected to make jump in year two.

Corey Peters: Lunch pail guy, doesn’t receive the credit he deserves, occupies lineman.

Olsen Pierre: On the 53-man roster last year but didn’t play in a single game.

Frostee Rucker: Returning for his 12th season and expected to be part of the rotation.

Ed Stinson: Made to switch from linebacker a few years ago and needs to earn a roster spot.

Pasoni Tasini: Undrafted free agent from Utah.

Xavier Williams: Depth guy that creates double teams, allows linebackers to shoot the gaps.

LINEBACKERS (14)

Alex Bazzie: Undrafted free agent from Marshall.

Deone Bucannon: The Cardinals picked up his fifth-year option $8.9 million in 2018, but he missed three games at the end of last season. He will camp on PUP.

Cap Capi: Entering his second year, he’s a practice squad option.

Karlos Dansby: Over the last five years, he made 571 tackles. The Cardinals think he has something left.

Alani Fua: Can play both inside and outside, and is a good special teams player.

Markus Golden: He led the team in sacks last year and plays with his hair on fire.

Zaviar Gooden: Signed to Cardinals’ practice squad on November 11 and was promoted to the active roster three weeks later.

Chandler Jones: 27 years old with 41 sacks in the last four years and he signed a five-year deal to remain under contract through 2021.

Jarvis Jones: Needs to be more consistent and make more impact plays when the game is on the line.

Tre’Von Johnson: Undrafted free agent from Weber State.

Kareem Martin: Made a positional change and provides depth at outside linebacker and on special teams.

Gabe Martin: On injured reserve last year, he was missed on special teams.

Haason Reddick: Can play multiple positions and is expected to contribute in his first year.

Scooby Wright: Claimed off the Browns practice squad a year ago as a good special teams player. He adds depth at inside linebacker.

SECONDARY (17)

Budda Baker: A second-round pick, he can play multiple positions and is expected to contribute immediately.

Antoine Bethea: A true pro, what does the 32-year-old have left in the tank?

Justin Bethel: Took a pay cut and could be a starter in week one.

Eli Bouka: Placed on injured reserve list and could be a practice squad option.

Tyvon Branch: On injured reserve list for the last two years, he took a pay cut for another shot with the Cardinals.

Rudy Ford: Drafted in the sixth round, he played multiple positions and should contribute on special teams.

Ironhead Gallon: Undrafted free agent from Georgia Southern.

Daniel Gray: Undrafted free agent from Utah State.

Tyrann Mathieu: Must remain healthy. An impact player when healthy.

Gump Hayes: Undrafted free agent from Arizona State.

Ryan Lewis: Undrafted free agent from Pittsburgh.

Harlan Miller: Can play both corner and safety; is considered a combo defensive back.

Patrick Peterson: Going into his seventh season, he has been in the Pro Bowl each year he’s been in league.

Jumal Rolle: A four-year veteran who has played in 19 games, he’s coming off a torn Achilles last year with the Ravens.

Sojourn Shelton: Undrafted free agent from Wisconsin. Shelton has the highest Cardinals undrafted free agent signing bonus of $25,000.

Brandon Williams: A 2016 third-round pick, he struggled to learn a new position last year.

Ronald Zamort: Added to the practice squad late in the year last year.

Special Teams (4)

Aaron Brewer: Cardinals added in the first month of the season after struggling with a rookie long snapper (Kam Canaday).

Phil Dawson: After signing a two-year contract, he is expected to help win close games with clutch kicks.

Richie Leone: The punter was signed to future contracts from the CFL.

Matt Wile: He was added to the roster after two punters were released (Drew Butler & Ryan Quigley). Favorite to win the punter job.

Presented By
Western Governors University

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

1 day ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

1 day ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

2 days ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

2 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

2 days ago

Mapping out the Arizona Cardinals’ roster ahead of camp