Arizona Cardinals 2017: Players on the roster bubble
By Jim Koch
Strong selections by the Arizona Cardinals during next week’s NFL Draft could leave the future of a few veterans in doubt
With eight picks in next week’s NFL Draft, one would hope that most of those drafted will make the Arizona Cardinals’ final roster. In a perfect world, all eight will still be around after final cuts.
Strong performances by rookies during training camp could lead to the release of some veteran Cardinals. Such is the life of a professional football player. It’s a “What have you done for me lately?”-type business, with jobs being up for grabs constantly.
It will be no different in Cards’ camp this summer. Battle lines will be drawn, competitors taking each other on for the right to remain in the desert for the upcoming season.
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It would be stunning if Arizona doesn’t draft at least one cornerback next week. Management could also add an experienced cover guy sometime between now and the start of the regular season. A couple of additions at the position may very well leave Justin Bethel’s job in jeopardy.
The only Cardinal corners who appear safe for now are Patrick Peterson and Brandon Williams. It’s doubtful that the front office would give up on a third-round pick such as Williams after just one year. Bethel could find himself vying to remain the club’s fifth cornerback (assuming they keep five).
A rookie safety could possibly push second-year Cardinal Tyvon Branch out the door. Tyrann Mathieu and brand-new free agent addition Antoine Bethea should assume the starting spots. The coaches liked what they saw when cornerback Harlan Miller played safety late in 2016, maybe even enough to make the move permanent.
Since Jermaine Gresham was retained on a four-year deal, the tight end position has seemingly been put on the back burner. But if GM Steve Keim decides to take one with a mid or late-round pick, Troy Niklas could be in trouble. Darren Fells is gone, but remaining tight ends Ifeanyi Momah and Hakeem Valles, plus a rookie, could make Niklas expendable.
Defensive tackle Corey Peters’ first year in Arizona (2015) was lost to injury, and he wasn’t terribly productive last season. A draft pick, or even a host of young returnees at the position, could spell the end of Peters. The list of youngsters includes Robert Nkemdiche, Rodney Gunter, Josh Mauro, Xavier Williams and Pierre Olsen.
Bethel, Branch, Niklas and Peters are all scheduled to become unrestricted free agents in 2018. Moving on from the foursome this season would just expedite the process for Arizona. Out with the old, in with the new.