The Cardinals’ CB1 of the future is already on the roster

TEMPE — The Arizona Cardinals’ cornerbacks situation had its fair share of question marks heading into the season, especially when looking at CB1.

Even with the addition of free agent Sean Murphy-Bunting, just how good could the unit really be given the youth movement in the room?

And that’s before even mentioning the questionable pass rush up front.

Growing pains have popped up across these last 12 games, but overall, the room hasn’t been the liability many expected it to be ahead of the regular season.

It all starts with second-year pro Garrett Williams.

The nickel cornerback has picked up where he left off following an abbreviated nine-game rookie season. Across 11 games (nine starts), Williams has already set career marks in tackles (38), interceptions (two) and passes defensed (six).

And he’s been tested throughout 2024.

Despite seeing the most targets on the roster (43), Williams has allowed 24 catches for 219 yards and one touchdown, per Pro Football Focus. That translates to a 58.1 opposing passer rating and an 80.2 coverage grade.

“I don’t like to name names and stuff like that, but this guy’s playing really, really good football right now. Like really good football, and it might fly under the radar a little bit (with) what we ask him to do, how he executes the scheme and what we ask him to do,” head coach Jonathan Gannon said last Wednesday. “He’s won a bunch of one-on-ones. He’s taking the ball away. He covers really well, tackles really well, blitzes.

“He does it all for us and we load him up mentally now because he can handle it. He has some position flexibility, too, which you guys haven’t seen that come to fruition. He a lot of times is the next guy in at different spots, so he has to prepare for that, too. He’s been going like this since he’s buckled up his chin strap and I don’t think he’s hit his ceiling yet either, by no means.”

A big piece to Williams’ continued growth has been his confidence.

Getting more reps and further versed in the playbook have been key to that progression.

It’s also led to Williams’ leadership traits showing up that much more within the locker room.

Being a voice for rookie cornerback Elijah Jones, who like Williams had to start his NFL career on injured reserve after dealing with a heel issue, is a prime example of that.

“It stems from (Williams) doing everything right, being a pro,” Gannon said Friday. “In only his second year, he’s a guy that you can look to that his process is detailed, it’s efficient and it’s consistent. He stays disciplined to it.”

As for the natural next step? It starts with flexing his versatility more out wide, something he did a lot of in college.

While Williams has made his home at nickel, he’s lined up very little — 19 snaps across two seasons — outside.

But given just how important his current role is within defensive coordinator Nick Rallis’ scheme, maybe that’s more of an as-needed type move.

After all, you don’t want to mess with a good thing, especially when those around Williams are holding up their end of the bargain.

The Cardinals’ youth movement continues

With Williams at nickel, it’s been Murphy-Bunting, second-year pro Starling Thomas V and rookie Max Melton patrolling the boundaries more times than not.

Murphy-Bunting has presented a veteran presence in the locker room, but it’s been Melton and Thomas that are giving Arizona added confidence in the group.

Melton continues to carve out a consistent role each week behind a steady flow of defensive snaps after seeing more time as a special teamer across the first four games of his NFL career.

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon is seeing improved spatial awareness from rookie CB Max Melton as the reps pile up.

It’s a credit to his “growth mindset.” #AZCardinals pic.twitter.com/nUqdgK8cMk

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) November 29, 2024

“He’s a fast, twitchy, good cover guy with good coverage instincts. He’s tough, he’ll tackle you. I think a thing that he’s done a better job (of improving his spatial awareness),” Gannon said last Friday.

“He’s very amped up on growth mindset. … Every rep that he takes in practice or in a game, he wants you to break it down critically for him so he can learn and improve from it. When they’re like that, you feel really good about the people you got in the building.”

Melton’s made the most of the added reps, recording 31 tackles, three passes defensed and a forced fumble across the seven games. And although Melton’s seeing the targets (36) increase, he’s yet to give up a touchdown.

That includes allowing just two catches for 23 yards on nine targets in Arizona’s win over Chicago.

“Max is a really good player and he’s really fast,” special teams coordinator and assistant head coach Jeff Rodgers said last Tuesday. “He’s getting chances defensively and I think that he’s going to progress and probably be a guy that won’t be playing gunner in the next few years. That’s his role right now and he’s doing it well.”

Thomas meanwhile continues to be an important piece to the secondary, having not missed a start since Week 13 of last year.

His five passes defensed trail only Williams for the team lead to go along with 37 tackles in 2024.

Not bad for an undrafted free agent that came aboard late in 2023.

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