Arizona Cardinals profiles: Rodney Gunter

Nov 15, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) is pressured by Arizona Cardinals nose tackle Rodney Gunter (95) during the fourth quarter at CenturyLink Field. Arizona defeated Seattle, 39-32. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) is pressured by Arizona Cardinals nose tackle Rodney Gunter (95) during the fourth quarter at CenturyLink Field. Arizona defeated Seattle, 39-32. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Arizona Cardinals are just a day away from opening training camp in Glendale

We continue our annual look at player by player from A to Z on the current Arizona Cardinals roster as we are now entering the final stages of the offseason before the start of training camp. Players report to training camp tomorrow in Glendale.

In this profile we look at defensive tackle Rodney Gunter. He enters his second season in the NFL and Cardinals out of Deleware State.

2015: Gunter was considered a steal out of the 2015 NFL Draft.  In the end, he played in 16 games, starting 11 of them.  He ended up with 19 tackles and one sack in his rookie campaign.

2016: Gunter is in a log jam of players on the defensive line.  There are nine players on the roster on the defensive line.  There will be no way the Cardinals will be able to keep all nine.

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For this year you have to believe Gunter is going nowhere.  He should have one of the spots sealed up.  Gunter for the most part came as advertised last season.

He will push for a starting spot this season no doubt.  That depth however though will not make that a sure thing.  Gunter is still young, still learning.

I would look for all of his numbers to improve this season.  With the defensive line and the linebacking core that is out there this season, there could be more attention put on guys like linebacker Chandler Jones, freeing up guys like Gunter.

They say we should always watch out for the sophomore jinx.  With Gunter I don’t think that is something he will need to worry about.