ARIZONA CARDINALS

A post-NFL Draft offensive roster review of the Arizona Cardinals

Apr 28, 2020, 10:49 AM | Updated: Apr 29, 2020, 8:24 am

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, center, celebrates with wide receiver Christian K...

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, center, celebrates with wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) and running back Kenyan Drake (41) after scoring against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019. (AP Photo/Josie Lepe)

(AP Photo/Josie Lepe)

Done with the NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals began virtual team meetings Monday with the 2020 season on the horizon.

It’s a good time to recap where the roster stands after free agency and now the draft.

Though this is rolling out in two parts — offense and special teams first and then defense later — it should be known that the list of potential rostered players includes 27 offensive players, 27 defensive players and three special teamers.

That means we’re above the 53-man roster limit by four players.

Below, you’ll see each positional group followed by the number of roster spots eating into the 57 players considered.

The list of players in each group are broken into starters, depth/developmental and a tough-cut zone, the last of which indicating a player or players who might be on the bubble if the cuts were tomorrow.

Obviously, free agents can still sign. Not every player on the current roster, including 21 undrafted free agents, are listed. Training camp will have to play out for them to move into consideration.

As it stands just after the draft, here is what sketching out the offensive side of the roster looks like.

Offense (27)

Quarterback (3)

Kyler Murray (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

Starter: Kyler Murray

Depth/developmental: Brett Hundley

Tough-cut zone: Chris Streveler

It’s unlikely Arizona would roll with three QBs, but Chris Streveler might be able to fight his way onto the roster if he becomes a gadget quarterback who can add something to the offense.

Running back (4)

Eno Benjamin (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Starter: Kenyan Drake

Depth/developmental: Chase Edmonds, Eno Benjamin

Tough-cut zone: D.J. Foster

The clock might be ticking on Foster after injuries have put him on ice too often. Fellow Sun Devil product Benjamin falling to the seventh round gives the Cardinals a few unique change-up options behind Drake.

Wide receiver (7)

Larry Fitzgerald and DeAndre Hopkins (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Starters: DeAndre Hopkins, Christian Kirk, Larry Fitzgerald

Depth/developmental: Trent Sherfield, Andy Isabella, KeeSean Johnson

Tough-cut zone: Hakeem Butler

Arizona is rolling with what it’s got depth-wise and didn’t pick a wideout in the 2020 draft. While the DeAndre Hopkins addition bumps Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk down in the pecking order, the three-receiver 2019 class can still make an impression after an underwhelming rookie year.

Sherfield is going to fight for his, and second-year pros Isabella, Butler and Johnson must meet the expectations when given a second chance.

Tight end (3)

Maxx Williams (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)

Starters: Maxx Williams

Depth/developmental: Dan Arnold

Tough-cut zone: Darrell Daniels

Williams’ blocking, Arnold’s red-zone connection with Kyler Murray and the trust Kingsbury put in Daniels in limited action sort of indicates the Cardinals feel good about this position already. If not, they could potentially upgrade it when the Chicago Bears decide to cut one of their 10 tight ends on that roster.

Offensive line (10)

Josh Jones (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Starters: LT D.J. Humphries, LG Justin Pugh, C Mason Cole, RG J.R. Sweezy, RT Justin Murray

Depth/developmental: RT Marcus Gilbert, OT Josh Jones, G Max Garcia, G/C Lamont Gaillard

Tough-cut zone: OT Josh Miles

Adding Jones zipped up a big bag of insurance for the Cardinals at tackle. A.Q. Shipley potentially not coming back zaps the guard depth with Cole now sliding in at center. Gaillard (limited playing time as a rookie) and Garcia (who came off an ACL injury last year) will have to prove they are capable if Pugh or Sweezy get hurt.

Miles might be up for a cut if Arizona adds somebody impressive off the waiver wire, but the Cardinals have expressed optimism about his development after one year.

Special teams (3)

Zane Gonzalez (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

Starters: K Zane Gonzalez, P Andy Lee, LS Aaron Brewer

Gonzalez signed his tender offer just before the draft and is officially back in the fold.

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