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Arizona Cardinals: 10 who will fight for jobs in ’17

By Scott Allen

Oct 17, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche (90) against the New York Jets at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche (90) against the New York Jets at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 24, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham (88) scores a touchdown during the fourth quarter as he is tackled by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Justin Bethel (28) at CenturyLink Field. The Cardinals won 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 24, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham (88) scores a touchdown during the fourth quarter as he is tackled by Arizona Cardinals cornerback Justin Bethel (28) at CenturyLink Field. The Cardinals won 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports /

Justin Bethel

He was deemed a “failure in progress” by coach Bruce Arians in early December.  That was mostly for his performance at cornerback.

Bethel never turned out to be the cornerback the Cardinals had hoped he would be.  In 2015 it appeared he would be groomed as the heir apparent to the starting job opposite Patrick Peterson.

Bethel didn’t play well down the stretch in 2015 but hopes were still high.  Then he got injured and missed a good part of training camp in 2016.

He never got things together and Arians pointed to his missed time as a partial reason.  He played well at the end of the season but it really can’t be enough to say Bethel is ready to compete.

Even on special teams, which is one of the main reasons he has stuck around, he made mistakes.

If he starts making mistakes on special teams, there really isn’t a reason to keep him around.  He is going to have to work hard to make this team in training camp.  It isn’t a given the Cardinals will keep him for just his special teams talent.

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