Category: Cardinals preseason

POLL: What do you think of the Isaiah Simmons trade?

The Cardinals sent Simmons to the Giants. What do you think of the trade?

The Arizona Cardinals made three trades on Thursday. The first sent safety Isaiah Simmons to the New York Giants for a seventh-round pick. The move was a surprise and so was what they got, but it became clear that he might not have been a great fit in this defense.

The former 2020 No. 8 overall pick now gets a new start with a team that will come to town in Week 2.

Simmons was both a popular player and one who sometimes played in a way that frustrated fans.

What do you think of the trade? Vote the poll to give your thoughts.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Cardinals sign OL Cohl Cabral before preseason finale

The former Arizona State center will likely be an emergency player for the game on Saturday.

The Arizona Cardinals announced a roster move a day before their preseason finale against the Minnesota Vikings. They added offensive lineman Cohl Cabral.

Cabral played collegiately for Arizona State. Most recently, he was the starting center for the champion Birmingham Stallions in the USFL.

He was an undrafted rookie in 2020, signing with the Los Angeles Rams.

In 2020 and 2021, he spent time on the practice squads of the Rams, Houston Texans, Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints.

He likely has been added to the roster to be available just in case.

Starting center Hjalte Froholdt isn’t likely to play against the Vikings. Jon Gaines and Hayden Howerton should play. Pat Elflein was injured last week so he might not be available, meaning Cabral would be an emergency center. should anything happen to Gaines or Howerton in the game.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Josh Dobbs almost signed with Cardinals in offseason

Dobbs was going to sign with the Cardinals but the Browns offered a fully guaranteed $2 million contract.

The Arizona Cardinals announced they acquired quarterback Josh Dobbs from the Cleveland Browns in a trade on Thursday.

This was not the first attempt this year the Cardinals attempted to acquire him.

According to Tony Grossi of ESPN 850 in Cleveland and The Land on Demand, Dobbs nearly signed with the Cardinals as a free agent in the offseason.

He spent most of last season with the Cleveland Browns, where Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing was Dobbs’ quarterbacks coach. He was released after Deshaun Watson returned from his 11-game suspension and finished the season with the Detroit Lions and Tennessee Titans, where he made two starts.

But, per Grossi, the Browns admitted to Dobbs that they made a mistake in releasing him and offered him a fully guaranteed $2 million contract. He returned to Cleveland.

However, the emergence of rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson in the preseason made Dobbs available.

The Cardinals initiated the trade talks.

The Cardinals sent a fifth-round pick to the Browns in exchange for Dobbs and a seventh-rounder.

What role Dobbs will play is unknown. He might be the Cardinals’ third quarterback behind Colt McCoy and rookie Clayton Tune while Kyler Murray finishes his recovery from a torn ACL. He could start the season as the backup, while some speculate that he might end up being the Cardinals’ Week 1 starter.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Cardinals net 5th-round pick in Josh Jones trade

The Cardinals send Jones and a 2024 seventh-round pick to the Texans for a fifth-round pick.

The Arizona Cardinals made a pair of trades on Thursday, sending safety Isaiah Simmons to the New York Giants and also tackle Josh Jones to the Houston Texans.

The deal with the Texans nets the Cardinals a fifth-round pick.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Cardinals are sending Jones and a seventh-round pick in exchange for Houston’s fifth-round pick in 2024.

This is the second trade of the offseason between the Cardinals and Texans. They also made a draft-day trade in which the Cardinals acquired the Texans’ first-round pick and third-round pick.

Arizona will not have Houston’s selections in the first, third and fifth rounds after this deal.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Cardinals trade OT Josh Jones to Texans

The re-signing of Kelvin Beachum and drafting of Paris Johnson signaled the end of Jones’ time with the Cardinals.

The Arizona Cardinals are wheeling and dealing. After trading safety Isaiah Simmons to the New York Giants, they have agreed to a deal sending tackle Josh Jones to the Houston Texans, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The Cardinals get Houston’s fifth-round pick in exchange for Jones and a seventh-round pick.

Jones was drafted by the Cardinals in the third round in 2020.

Since being drafted, he has played in 47 games. He started 21 over the last two seasons at right tackle, right guard and left tackle.

He was left without a sure spot on the roster.

The Cardinals re-signed Kelvin Beachum to a two-year deal and drafted Paris Johnson sixth overall this year.

There was talk of possibly playing left guard but the Cardinals added veterans Elijah Wilkinson and Dennis Daley in free agency.

Jones is due more than $2.71 million in the final year of his rookie contract, having earned a performance salary escalator.

The move saves the Cardinals $2.71 million in salary cap space with the trade.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Cardinals trade Isaiah Simmons to Giants

The Cardinals send Simmons to the Giants for a seventh-round pick.

The Arizona Cardinals have parted ways with their 2020 first-round pick. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Cardinals have traded safety Isaiah Simmons to the New York Giants.

They get a 2024 seventh-round pick from New York.

Simmons was drafted eighth overall in 2020 out of Clemson and originally played linebacker. In his three seasons with the Cardinals, he has both struggled and made plays. He was moved to safety, where he played most in college, this offseason under new head coach Jonathan Gannon.

Simmons struggled in the Cardinals’ preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs last weekend.

Simmons was due $1.01 million in salary and more than $2.4 million in a roster bonus (which might have been paid already). If it was, the Cardinals will save only the $1.01 in salary. If the roster bonus was not paid yet, they will save $3.42 million in cap space.

With the trade of Simmons, the door is opened for other safeties to make the team behind Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Cardinals, Vikings have many player connections

The Cardinals and Vikings play each other on Saturday. The Vikings have five former Cardinals on their roster.

The Arizona Cardinals have traveled to Minnesota for a pair of joint practices against the Vikings before the two teams play their preseason finale on Saturday.

We know of the coaching connections as head coach Jonathan Gannon, offensive coordinator Drew Petzing and defensive coordinator Nick Rallis all coached for the Vikings under former Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer.

However, there are a number of player connections between the two teams, too. Most are former Cardinals now on the Vikings.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

Jonathan Gannon won’t rule out rookie QB Clayton Tune as Week 1 starter

Gannon says the decision will be made about starters when they have to make those decisions.

The Arizona Cardinals are less than three weeks away from their season opener and it doesn’t look like quarterback Kyler Murray will be ready to play in Week 1. That is no surprise.

Colt McCoy has been operating as the first-team quarterback but his play in the preseason, albeit very limited snaps, has not been impressive.

Is the door open for rookie Clayton Tune, drafted in the fifth round this year?

Head coach Jonathan Gannon won’t rule it out.

When asked on Wednesday if Tune could start in Week 1, he left the door open.

“We’ll see,” he said. “We’re evaluating that every day and we’ll make those decisions when we need to.”

Tune has played the bulk of both preseason games as Gannon believes he needs the game reps.

That is especially important if he ends up being a third-stringer who gets limited practice reps in the regular season.

Tune’s play in the preseason has not been particularly impressive. It hasn’t been bad. He has shown some promise as an NFL quarterback.

But would that be enough to supplant McCoy and the known commodity he is?

My guess is no, but Gannon preaches competition constantly so to name someone a starter now would be to stray from that.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Cardinals release final preseason depth chart

This is the final depth chart before final cuts and the regular season.

The Arizona Cardinals will play their preseason finale on Saturday on the road against the Minnesota Vikings. Leading up to the game, the team released its final preseason depth chart.

It is basically the same as it was, minus changes to the roster.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

PODCAST: What was the good and the bad from the Cardinals’ loss to the Chiefs?

Jess Root and Seth Cox give takeaways from the Cardinals’ preseason loss to the Chiefs.

The Arizona Cardinals lost their second preseason game 38-10 to the Kansas City Chiefs. There was plenty of bad in the game and some good things. In this latest edition of the podcast, Revenge of the Birds’ Seth Cox and I break down the positives and negatives in the loss.

We discuss the position battle that has been locked up and talk about the meaning of recent roster moves the Cardinals made.

Enjoy the show!

Enjoy the show with the embedded player above or by subscribing to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform, so you never miss a show. Make sure as well to give it a five-star rating!

Here are the topics and times from the show:

(1:00) What and who was good against the Chiefs

(25:04) What and who did poorly against the Chiefs

(43:18) The punting battle is over

(50:23) The meaning of the recent roster moves

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