Arizona Cardinals: Defensive tackles

The Arizona Cardinals all of sudden seem deep at defensive tackle

When the Arizona Cardinals added Robert Nkemdiche in the 2016 NFL Draft, the defensive tackle position all of a sudden became one that had the most depth on the roster.

The Cardinals already have Calais Campbell, Red Bryant, Josh Mauro, and Rodney Gunter.  Oh also Frostee Rucker, Ed Stinson, and Corey Peters. The only defensive tackle on the roster that would seem to be the odd man out is Olsen Pierre, a first-year player out of Miami.

That makes seven defensive tackles on the roster.  It would be tough to keep all of them come time to decide on the final 53-man roster at the beginning of September.

Luckily the Cardinals still have just over three months until that point.  However the competition has already started.

The Cardinals just finished their first round of OTA’s last week and will begin a second round of OTA’s this week on Tuesday through Thursday.  There will be another round next week Tuesday May 31st through Friday June 3rd.  The Cardinals will finish off offseason workouts with a mini-camp from June 7th-9th.

Nkemdiche was drafted to come in and push Campbell.  Campbell still hasn’t been consistent enough to make coach Bruce Arians completely satisfied with him.

Mauro, Rucker, Stinson, Peters all had their moments last season.  Then you have Gunter who is entering his second season in the NFL.  He is only going to get better.

Now Jones is technically a defensive end but you get the picture here.  The competition this summer in camp will be tough.  One or two of these guys will be odd men out.  I look forward to watching this line progress.