Arizona Cardinals: Breakout Candidates for 2017

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

After a disappointing 7-8-1 season in the desert, the Arizona Cardinals will be relying on new playmakers.

The Arizona Cardinals 2016 campaign fell very short of the Super Bowl expectation that they had going into the season. After finishing the year prior with a 13-3 record, the Arizona Cardinals had to stratch and claw for second place in a top-heavy NFC West division merely for the second palce spot.

This second place position in the division kept the Cardinals out of the playoffs for the first time since Coach Bruce Arians’ rookie season. Not only are the Cardinals trying to bounce back from a disappointing season, but they are also attempting to compensate for a tight cap situation and an excess of unrestricted free agents.

For this reason, the Cardinals will be relying on free agents, draft picks, and players that are already a part of the roster to step up and make an impact. These players stepping up will be crucial, especially if players such as Calais Campbell, Tony Jefferson, D.J. Swearinger, and Kevin Minter are all free agents. This slide show will contain six current players and one additional honorable mention that could potentially fill in the numerous voids left by the soon-to-be absent playmakers.
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