Arizona Cardinals: Final cuts prove depth

The Arizona Cardinals made their final cuts on Saturday to get to the 53-man roster limit

There were some surprises and then there were some not so much surprises when it came time for cuts for the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday.  They reached the 53-man roster limit after making a number of moves.

What you see as of Sunday night may not hold true come Tuesday or Wednesday.  However many teams spent Sunday picking players off waivers for either their teams or practice squads.  The Cardinals made no such moves on Sunday.

Here are the list of moves made this weekend by the Cardinals:

Waived were T Cameron Bradfield, CB Cariel Brooks, CB Jonte Green, G Jon Halapio, QB Logan Thomas, QB Phillip Sims, WR Trevor Harman, RB Robert Hughes, S Harold Jones-Quartey, RB Paul Lasike, LB Gabe Martin, G Antonie McClain, CB C.J. Roberts, DE Matt Shaughnessy, WR Jaxon Shipley, C Anthony Steen, NT Alameda Ta’amu, S Anthony Walters, RB Kerwynn Williams.

In addition, the Cardinals waived-injured two players including RB Marion Grice.  Also waived-injured was CB Jimmy Legree and TE Gerald Christian was placed on injured reserve.

The surprises to me included Brooks and Legree.  I also thought at least one of the three of Williams, Grice, and Hughes would make it.  Grice apparently hurt his shoulder but no other information was provided.  That leaves the Cardinals going with four running backs.

Shaughnessy was a guy I struggled with making the squad and eventually projected him not making it.  In the end the Cardinals did make that move.  The defensive line was just way too deep unfortunately.  Shaughnessy missed a good part of 2014 with an injury.

As for the quarterbacks, the Cardinals traded for Matt Barkley on Friday so that made Sims and Thomas expendable. Initially I thought one of them would be put on the practice squad.  However, Thomas was claimed off waivers by the Miami Dolphins and Sims was scheduled to work out for the Oakland Raiders.

The moves made clearly show the depth the Cardinals did have at some positions.  Defensive end and running back were just two areas the Cardinals had to make tough cuts.  Gabe Martin was close at linebacker and Brooks was close at cornerback.  You could see Brooks possibly on the practice squad as well as Martin.  Both need to clear waivers.