Arizona Cardinals: Updated 53-man roster prediction
By Scott Allen
Defense
The defensive line is going to be a real tough call. Unfortunately some good players are going to leave. Calais Campbell and Rodney Gunter head up the top two on the depth chart. They aren’t going anywhere.
After those two, the current depth chart may not accurately reflect who the Cardinals end up keeping. Rookie Robert Nkemdiche is at the bottom of the depth chart but that is because he hasn’t played or practiced. The Cardinals are keeping him.
That leaves five more guys, Frostee Rucker, Ed Stinson, Josh Mauro, Red Bryant, and Iosia Iosia as to choose the rest from. Six of these guys will stay. I look for the Cardinals to try to move Rucker or Stinson and the other stays with Bryant and Mauro. (6)
The reason they can live with six is because of the strong side linebackers, lead by Chandler Jones, who can also line up on the line. Alex Okafor and Shaq Riddick are behind him and I believe both of them will stay. (3)
Nose tackle will be Corey Peters and Xavier Williams. Peters is currently first however Williams should see plenty of playing time this season. (2)
At inside linebacker, Deone Bucannon and Kevin Minter head the chart there. That leaves Chris Clemons, Alani Fua, Gabe Martin, Donald Butler, and Lamar Louis. Clemons and Fua seem like the best bets to join the roster. (4)
The weakside linebackers are Markus Golden, Kareem Martin, and Tristan Okpalaugo. The Cardinals likely keep Golden and Martin. (2)
At cornerback, last season the Cardinals kept three. I believe they stay in that mode. Patrick Peterson on the left, Brandon Williams and the right are the starters. Justin Bethel likely makes it over Harlan Miller thanks to special teams. (3)
Because the Cardinals have safeties like Tyrann Mathieu, who can slot into the corner as well, the Cardinals stay with the three corners. At free safety then, Mathieu and Tony Jefferson stay. Strong safety will be D.J. Swearinger and Marqui Christian. This means Tyvon Branch doesn’t make it nor does Mike Jenkins.
You have to cut someone though. Christian has had a good camp and preseason. As many of you keep reminding me, Swearinger is going nowhere. So, that’s all they can keep. (4)
Special Teams
Chandler Catanzaro will be the Cardinals kicker for the third consecutive season. Drew Butler will win the punting competition between himself and Garrett Swanson.
Danny Dillon will be the new long snapper, replacing the retired Mike Leach. He beats out Kameron Canaday. (3)
If the Cardinals do go against their history and keep just two quarterbacks or maybe just eight offensive linemen, I could see the Cardinals keeping an additional defensive lineman and/or a fifth safety. Hard decisions coming up.