Arizona Cardinals From A To Z: Justin Bethel

Player profile of CB Justin Bethel as Arizona Cardinals training camp starts July 31st

As we prepare for Arizona Cardinals training camp reporting date of July 31st, it is time for our annual look at the roster player by player.  I look at what they’ve done, where they are now and how I project each player’s status at the end of camp.

We go from A to Z and continue with cornerback Justin Bethel.  This will be his fourth season with the Cardinals.

Bethel was drafted in 2012 out of Presbyterian.  He will be competing for his first chance to start since entering the NFL.

2014 season: Bethel, who has spent most of his early career as a special team stud, did play in all 16 games last season.  He did get playing time as a backup cornerback and made 25 tackles, a career high.  He had one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.  He continued his knack for getting his hands on the ball on field-goal attempts.

2015 season projection:  Bethel has a very good chance at more playing time this season.  As previously mentioned, he will have the opportunity to compete for a starting position with Jerraud Powers for a starting corner position opposite Patrick Peterson.  As of right now, I project Powers to win the starting nod.

Bethel will still be around on special teams even if he doesn’t win a starting position at corner.  If Powers does bet him out in training camp you can be sure Bethel is right behind him to take over should he need to.  From that standpoint I don’t think you will see much of a drop off.  He has shown steady improvements over the past three seasons.