Category: Arizona Cardinals offseason

Final Cardinals 53-man roster projections before final cuts

NFL roster cutdown day is Tuesday. Here is one final set of predictions for the Cardinals’ 53-man roster following final cuts.

The Arizona Cardinals will have to get their roster down to 53 players, a mix of releasing players, placing players on different reserves and lists, and perhaps they have a trade or two coming.

The preseason is over and now roster choices and strategies begin.

Based on what we know and have seen, here are some final roster projections for the Cardinals.

Quarterback

  • Kyler Murray
  • Clayton Tune

Desmond Ridder being in concussion protocol might complicate this. If he has not been cleared, they might need to carry him for a few days until he is.

Running back

  • James Conner
  • Trey Benson
  • Emari Demercado
  • DeeJay Dallas
  • Michael Carter

I don’t know how they will handle five backs on the roster. Perhaps they will deal one player, but it appears they don’t want to get rid of these guys.

Wide receiver

  • Marvin Harrison Jr.
  • Michael Wilson
  • Greg Dortch
  • Chris Moore
  • Zach Pascal
  • Xavier Weaver

Zay Jones will be on the suspended list and not count toward the final 53. Weaver has done enough to make the team. Pascal makes it because of Jones’ suspension.

Tight end

  • Trey McBride
  • Elijah Higgins
  • Tip Reiman

They would like to keep Travis Vokolek but won’t be able to keep him on the 53. The practice squad will be the goal for now. If he gets claimed, Blake Whiteheart and Bernhard Seikovits will end up there.

Offensive line

  • Paris Johnson
  • Evan Brown
  • Hjalte Froholdt
  • Will Hernandez
  • Jonah Williams
  • Kelvin Beachum
  • Isaiah Adams
  • Jon Gaines
  • Elijah Wilkinson

Christian Jones probably will land on injured reserve and lose the season with the leg injury he sustained. That is a bummer because they probably would have preferred that he can be on the practice squad.

Defensive line

  • Justin Jones
  • Bilal Nichols
  • Roy Lopez
  • L.J. Collier
  • Dante Stills
  • Khyiris Tonga

Darius Robinson will start the season on injured reserve, which opened the door for Tonga. Everyone else was a lock.

Outside linebacker

  • Zaven Collins
  • Dennis Gardeck
  • Xavier Thomas
  • Cameron Thomas
  • Victor Dimukeje
  • Jesse Luketa

Luketa still manages to find his way on the roster.

Inside linebacker

  • Kyzir White
  • Mack Wilson
  • Krys Barnes
  • Owen Pappoe
  • Markus Bailey

This room has stayed the same the entire offseason. Bailey’s play on special teams basically gives him the spot Zeke Turner used to have.

Cornerback

  • Sean Murphy-Bunting
  • Garrett Williams
  • Starling Thomas
  • Max Melton
  • Kei’Trel Clark

I am guessing that Elijah Jones’ ankle injury might land him on injured reserve, at least for roster purposes. We will see if he ends up being a designated to return player.

Safety

  • Budda Baker
  • Jalen Thompson
  • Dadrion Taylor-Demerson

The fourth spot could go to Joey Blount, Andre Chachere or Darren Hall. Hall’s injury might mean injured reserve. But for now, that fourth spot will be addressed later.

Specialists

  • Matt Prater
  • Blake Gillikin
  • Aaron Brewer

If the Cardinals want to get fancy, they could cut Brewer because, as a vested veteran, he is not subject to waivers. They can sign him to the practice squad and elevate him for Week 1 while they figure out other spots on the roster. So watch out for that. He will be on the team and will play, but they could use his roster spot initially to keep an extra player.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

The 5 toughest roster decisions for Cardinals before final cuts

These five decisions will be tough for the Cardinals as they have to get the roster down to 53 players by Tuesday afternoon.

The Arizona Cardinals and the rest of the NFL will have to get their rosters down to 53 players by Tuesday afternoon at 1 p.m. Arizona time. Between now and then, they will have to make some tough roster decisions.

Which ones will be the hardest?

Below are some of the decisions that will be tough to make.

Keep 2 or 3 QBs on the roster?

Clayton Tune appears to have beaten out Desmond Ridder for the backup quarterback job. But will the Cardinals keep or cut Ridder and try to get him on the practice squad?

The danger is losing him completely. And if Ridder remains in concussion protocol on Tuesday, they will have to keep him.

Keeping 4 or 5 RBs

James Conner, Trey Benson, Emari Demercado and DeeJay Dallas seem to be locks for the roster. Conner is the starter. Benson is the young draft pick. Demercado is a third-down back and special teams guy. Dallas has guaranteed money this year and is a very good returner.

That leaves Michael Carter as the odd man out, but he did nothing but produce when given opportunities.

Could they keep five backs? But if they keep five, then they have to short another position.

Darius Robinson to IR or not?

This might not be as difficult as it could be. If he clearly needs about six weeks to recover from his calf strain, then IR makes sense. He would have to miss four games.

But if he can be back after missing only one or two games, would they rather carry an extra defensive lineman to get him healthy?

Who is safety No. 4?

Assuming they don’t go with only three and figure things out with the practice squad, the Cardinals will have a tough decision with their fourth safety. Budda Baker, Jalen Thompson and fourth-round pick Dadrion Taylor-Demerson are locks. Andre Chachere has been in the defensive system multiple years. Joey Blount is a stud on special teams. Darren Hall played the best of the group in the preseason and gives safety/nickel versatility.

How many CBs can they keep?

The starters are Sean Murphy-Bunting, Garrett Williams and Starling Thomas. Max Melton is a second-round pick. Elijah Jones is a third-round pick. Kei’Trel Clark played well and is a favorite of Jonathan Gannon. Can they keep all six?

Marvin Harrison Sr. added to lawsuit by Fanatics against Marvin Harrison Jr.

Fanatics accuses the Harrisons of trying to defraud them.

Arizona Cardinals rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is in the middle of legal action by Fanatics against him. The suit against him has been amended, as shared by attorney Paul Lesko on X/Twitter. Fanatics has expanded the suit to also include Harrison’s father, Marvin Harrison Sr.

Fanatics alleges that they had an agreement with the No. 4 pick in the draft over a year ago where he would provide autographed memorabilia to Fanatics. He was supposedly paid after a binding terms sheet was signed.

However, Harrison Jr. claims he never signed it.

His father allegedly did, and Fanatics now claims there was intent to commit fraud.

Until now, Cardinals fans still are unable to buy Harrison Jr. jerseys. That hasn’t impacted the rookie’s on-field preparation, as he has looked great in the offseason and training camp, and is expected to be very productive once the season begins.

As for off the field, we will see what happens.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Cardinals rookie DL Darius Robinson could start season on IR

Robinson suffered a calf strain that is considered to be a multi-week injury.

The Arizona Cardinals are looking at missing rookie defensive lineman Darius Robinson for multiple weeks. According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, imaging for the calf injury he suffered in practice on Thursday revealed it is a multi-week injury and he is a candidate to begin the season on injured reserve. It is a calf strain.

The regular-season opener is two weeks away. If he starts the season on injured reserve, he must miss at least the first four games of the season and cannot practice until Week 5.

The Cardinals must trim their rosters to 53 players by Tuesday afternoon. They can place him on injured reserve before final cuts and he can still be eligible to be designated to return after four weeks. It is a new rule this year that a team can use up to two of its designations from IR on players who were placed on the reserve before being on the 53-man roster. Previously, they must be on the active roster for at least a day or IR meant being out for the season.

Robinson, the 27th pick in the draft this year, had a great camp and preseason. He was expected to be in the defensive rotation.

We will see how many weeks the Cardinals anticipate him being out. If they feel he can come back before Week 5, then they will probably carry him on the active roster.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Hjalte Froholdt contract extension details, salary cap info

We have the details for center Hjalte Froholdt’s two-year contract extension.

Cards Wire has learned the details of the two-year contract extension Arizona Cardinals center Hjalte Froholdt signed on Aug. 21 and it turns out the $12 million reported value is new money. The $8 million reported that is guaranteed is actually $7.25 million fully guaranteed at signing.

Froholdt’s previous two-year deal that he signed in March, 2023, included a $2.48 million base salary for the 2024 season and a maximum total of $255,000 in per-game active ($15,000 each) roster bonuses. There was no guaranteed money this year although once on the opening-day roster, the salary would have become guaranteed.

The three years of the current contract is now worth $14.745 million. The $7.25 million of full guarantees include a $4 million signing bonus, $2 million base guaranteed this year and $1.25 million of the $2.5 million base salary in 2025.

Another $750,000 of the 2025 salary is guaranteed for injury only at signing, but becomes fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2025 league year, which is currently scheduled to be March 16.

His 2024 compensation still includes the per-game roster bonuses, which are also in place for 2025 and 2026. Froholdt receives a nominal $10,080 workout bonus for the already completed offseason program and there are $100,000 workout bonuses in both 2025 and 2026.

Just like the two-year contract extension signed in early August by linebacker Zaven Collins, there is no guaranteed money in 2026. Froholdt’s salary for that season is $4.77 million and there is also a $500,000 roster bonus believed to be due early in the league year.

Also like Collins, if Froholdt’s play continues to ascend, it is probable there will be another extension in 2026.

As for the salary cap, the charge this year is now $4.148 million, slightly higher than the previous hit of $3.785 million. In 2025, the cap charge is $4.188 million and jumps to $6.958 million in 2026, obviously assuming he is on the roster and the $500,000 roster bonus is paid.

The prorated cap for the new signing bonus is $1.333 million each year and this year the remaining $550,000 from his 2023 singing bonus also counts against the cap for a total of $1.883 million.

In the unlikely event that the Cardinals elect to move on from Froholdt in 2025, the dead charge against the cap would be $3.92 million if it occurred on or before or $2.58 million if after June 1 with the remainder hitting the cap in 2025. If the team moves on without him in 2026, the dead money would be a mere $1.333 million.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

15 days till the Cardinals’ season opener against the Bills

It has been a while since the Cardinals had a decent No. 15.

The Arizona Cardinals play their final preseason game in one day. They must cut the roster to 53 players in three days.

They will play their first game of the regular season on the road against the Buffalo Bills in 15 days.

Second-year quarterback Clayton Tune is the player on the roster now wearing No. 15 but has not yet been impactful. He might end up being this year’s backup quarterback, though, as he appears to be ahead of Desmond Ridder for the job.

The Cardinals have a long list of recent players at No. 15, none who were worth much. You have to go back to receiver Michael Floyd from 2012-2016.

He was a first-round pick and had a 1,000-yard season in 2013. He never became the dominant receiver many believed he could be and ultimately was cut after a DUI arrest in 2016.

The countdown continues tomorrow.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

What will the Cardinals’ roster look like next Wednesday? Here’s how it might play out

A look at the locks and players battling for a spot on the final roster.

It’s a bit less than four days when all NFL teams will have their rosters set at 53 players. For the Arizona Cardinals, there are obviously numerous decisions that will have to be made after Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos and by 1 p.m. Arizona time Tuesday.

Of course, in addition to the 53 on the active roster, there will be 17 on the practice squad that will begin being named on Wednesday, a total that includes tight end Bernhard Seikovits, who has an international exemption.

The practice squad is a large part of the choices being made because of the flexibility provided by two elevations available to the game-day roster. That can reduce the need to have a rostered player at some positions active when the practice squad can be utilized for that.

There is always consternation with cutting a potential practice-squad player that could be claimed on waivers.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon said they are a “huge” components of what happens. “Those are very meaningful spots for all kinds of reasons, but our practice-squad guys I don’t see those guys as never gonna get a jersey on game day,” Gannon said. “They gotta be ready to play at a moment’s notice. Those are important spots.”

At this moment, most anyone can come up with a big percentage of players that will be on the 53-man roster. The difficulty is identifying which of a large group of competitors will be either on the roster or practice squad. Any additional spot at a given position are affected by other positions.

With that said, I’ll take a stab at it. The following list has 41 players I believe are locks for the roster, with 22 that could go either way. The locks don’t include suspended wide receiver Zay Jones and injured defensive lineman Darius Robinson.

Quarterbacks

Locks (2): Kyler Murray, Clayton Tune

Battling (1): Desmond Ridder

Unless the bottom falls out Sunday, Tune has done enough to be Murray’s backup. The question is whether Ridder will be on the roster as the third quarterback, which Gannon has said is possible, or if the Cardinals put him on waivers with the hope of adding him to the practice squad.

Wide receivers

Locks (3): Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch

Battling (3): Zach Pascal, Xavier Weaver, Chris Moore

Reserve/suspended: Zay Jones

The Jones suspension for five games that was announced Friday could clear the way for Pascal and Weaver to be on the roster. They both have special-teams value, and there could be a decision between Weaver and running back DeeJay Dallas as kick returners.

Running backs

Locks (3): James Conner, Trey Benson, Emari Demercado

Battling (2): DeeJay Dallas, Michael Carter

Demercado is a valuable third-down back, while Dallas is a tough runner and kick returner with Carter simply a guy that makes plays when he’s on the field. Who will be the fourth and could they keep five?

Tight ends

Locks (3): Trey McBride, Elijah Higgins, Tip Reiman

Battling (2): Travis Vokolek, Blake Whiteheart

Vokolek and Whiteheart have a shot if the Cardinals keep four tight ends. If not, at least one will be on the practice squad.

Offensive linemen

Locks: (8): LT Paris Johnson Jr., LG Evan Brown, C Hjalte Froholdt, RG Will Hernandez, RT Jonah Williams, T Kelvin Beachum, C/G Jon Gaines II, G Isaiah Adams

Battling (3): G/T Elijah Wilkinson, C/G Trystan Colon, T Christian Jones

Two after the first eight will be on the roster or practice squad and maybe all three. Jones kept his head in the game against the Colts with no holding penalties in the second half after having four in the first two quarters and the Cardinals like his potential.

Defensive linemen

Locks (5): L.J. Collier, Justin Jones, Bilal Nichols, Roy Lopez, Dante Stills

Battling (1): Khyiris Tonga

Limbo (1): Darius Robinson

This is cut-and-dried, except for the status of Robinson as results of an MRI for a calf injury are pending. If a mild strain, he could be ready for the season opener or shortly afterward. If the injury is worse, he could land on short-term injured reserve, which would keep him sidelined for the first four games. The worst-case scenario is a complete tear with surgery necessary.

Edge rushers

Locks (5): Zaven Collins, Dennis Gardeck, Xavier Thomas, Cameron Thomas, Victor Dimukeje

Battling (2): Jesse Luketa, Tyreke Smith

The Cardinals kept six last season, so Luketa has a strong chance of being on the roster. But don’t count out Smith.

Inside linebackers

Locks (4): Kyzir White, Mack Wilson Sr., Krys Barnes, Owen Pappoe

Battling (2): Markus Bailey, Trevor Nowaske

It might be unlikely that five will be on the roster, but special teams could be the ticket for Bailey or Nowaske.

Cornerbacks

Locks (4): Sean Murphy-Bunting, Garrett Williams, Starling Thomas V, Max Melton

Battling (4): Elijah Jones, Kei’Trel Clark, Bobby Price, Divaad Wilson

Jones has stepped up in recent weeks and might have an edge if five corners are on the roster. Clark is also close.

Safeties

Locks (4): Budda Baker, Jalen Thompson, Dadrion (Rabbit) Taylor-Demerson, Andre Chachere

Battling (2): Joey Blount, Darren Hall

If five safeties are on the roster, it likely will be between Hall and Blount, who is a special teams demon. Hall is a versatile player the coaches like and can be considered a hybrid corner/safety.

Specialists

Locks (3): K Matt Prater, P Blake Gillikin, LS Aaron Brewer

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Cardinals WR Zay Jones suspended 1st 5 games of 2024 season

Jones will miss the first five games of the 2024 season related to a domestic battery charge from last November that was later dropped.

The Arizona Cardinals have lost receiver Zay Jones to start the season. The league announced he was suspended for the first five games of the season under the league’s personal conduct policy.

Next week, he will be placed on an exempt list and will not be able to be at the team facility or practice until after the Cardinals play the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5.

It is related to a domestic battery arrest last November while he played for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He allegedly caused an injury to the neck of the mother of his child. Those charges were later dropped, but the league investigated and clearly found there was reason to punish him under the personal conduct policy.

He will forfeit the first five weeks of his salary, scheduled to be $1.41 million. The $650,000 in salary guarantees are now voided.

Currently fourth on the Cardinals’ receiver depth chart, the team will need someone to step up in his place and it potentially opens a roster spot for someone like Zach Pascal or Tejhaun Palmer.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Cardinals rookie DL Darius Robinson dealing with calf injury

Robinson is looking at potential missed time but it isn’t bad news.

The Arizona Cardinals might have dodged a bullet with an injury to one of their top draft picks. Defensive lineman Darius Robinson, who was scheduled to have imaging done for an injury he suffered on Thursday, could miss time, according to Mike Jurecki.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon told reporters Friday that Robinson injured his calf but was waiting for results of the severity.

Upon news of an injury, many were worried about the potential of a serious injury, especially since second-year linebacker BJ Ojulari was lost for the season with a torn ACL.

With a little more than two weeks before the season opener on September 8, it does give Robinson time to recover, minimizing the amount of time he might miss.

If he were to be placed on injured reserve, he would have to miss at least the first four games of the season. The Cardinals expected results of the imaging later on Friday.

Robinson was selected 27th overall in the first round of the 2024 draft and is expected to be a key rotational player on the defensive line and perhaps some off the edge.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

 

16 days till the Cardinals’ season opener against the Bills

The Cardinals hope CB Max Melton is the next great No. 16 for them. The last one to make any impact was WR Trent Sherfield.

As we finish the work week of the final week of the preseason, the Arizona Cardinals are two days from their preseason finale, four days from having to cut the roster to 53 players and are 16 days away from their first game of the regular season.

They will take the field on the road against the Buffalo Bills in 16 days.

No. 16 on the roster is now rookie cornerback Max Melton, drafted in the second round this year. He has not yet made an impact but the hope is he will be a very good starter for many years.

No. 16 has not been a frequent impact number. Only two very impactful players have worn it. Most notably, quarterback Jake Plummer wore No. 16 from 1997-2002 and, before him, punter Rich Camarillo did from 1989-1993.

But the most recent player to have a reasonable impact was receiver Trent Sherfield, who spent 2018-2020 with the Cardinals.

He made the team in 2018 as an undrafted rookie and was one of the team’s key special teams players for three seasons. He caught 28 passes for 340 yards and a touchdown in three seasons.

He has played for three teams in the last three seasons. His best year has been in 2022 with the Miami Dolphins. He had 30 catches for 417 yards and two scores.

While with the Cardinals, he worked hard, took advantage of opportunities when they were given and played his butt off as a special teams player.

He had a nice NFL career, which is always good to see, especially for a player who was not drafted.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.