The Arizona Cardinals traded safety Isaiah Simmons to the New York Giants on Thursday. By so doing, it opened a spot on defense for a defensive back and, as the preseason closes, we now have questions about who will play in the slot in nickel packages.
All offseason, the Cardinals were using a three-safety rotation. Jalen Thompson and Budda Baker would start at safety with the two starting cornerbacks. In nickel sets with five defensive backs, Isaiah Simmons would play safety and Thompson would move to the slot.
With Simmons gone, we don’t know yet who the fifth defensive back will be, and we won’t likely get a clue in the preseason finale because the starters likely will not play.
If the Cardinals opt to keep Thompson in the slot in nickel packages, then a different safety will come in. That could be someone like Andre Chachere or JuJu Hughes.
But Thompson might simply stay at safety. That would mean a different player in the slot.
Antonio Hamilton played a lot in the slot in the Cardinals’ second preseason game. Could he slide into that role, or what about rookie Kei’Trel Clark?
Clark is in the mix to be a starter on the boundary, but many believe he is a better fit in the slot. He could slide inside in nickel packages with another cornerback like Christian Matthew playing outside.
But again, Saturday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings might not give us much insight.
We can at least take a look and see which players are getting snaps in the slot.
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