Arizona Cardinals: Linebackers training camp preview

The Arizona Cardinals have some studs in their linebacking core and should be ready to sack their opponents

The Arizona Cardinals linebackers could be one of the best linebacking units in the NFL.  Much of that has to do with Markus Golden and Chandler Jones.

If you throw Deone Bucannon in there as well and the return of Karlos Dansby, it would be tough to argue against that assessment.  You certainly can, however Birdgang would be hard to convince otherwise.

Once again in 2017 as it was in 2016 the tandem of Golden and Jones should pay huge dividends. The hope is both can stay healthy throughout training camp.

Golden had 12.5 sacks last year to go with four forced fumbles and 51 tackles.  As for Jones, his first season in Arizona didn’t go too bad either.  He had 11 sacks, three passes defensed, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and 49 tackles.

Jones got paid in the offseason as well.  The Cardinals opted to continue on with him instead of defensive tackle Calais Campbell.  The Cardinals could only afford to keep one of them.

In addition to the return of Dansby for his third go around with the club, the Cardinals still have Kareem Martin and Gabe Martin.  Both are valuable assets.

More from Raising Zona

• Arizona Cardinals: Could Eric Bieniemy come to the desert?
• Would Jonathan Gannon be a good fit for the Arizona Cardinals?
• Arizona Cardinals: Budda Baker right in his take regarding the next coach
• Arizona Cardinals: 3 reasons new coach should want to work with Murray
• Arizona Cardinals special teams could be completely revamped in 2023

Veteran Jarvis Jones, in his 5th NFL season, was signed as a free agent in the offseason.  He is one to keep your eye on during the preseason amongst the outside linebackers.

Jones had 42 tackles, three passes defensed and an interception last season for the Pittsburgh Steelers.  He has 10 interceptions in his first four NFL seasons.

Roster predictions:

Starters: OLB Golden, OLB C. Jones, ILB G. Martin, ILB Haason Reddick

Backups: OLB K. Martin, OLB J. Jones, ILB Dansby/Bucannon/Scooby Wright

Practice Squad: Tre’von Johnson, Cap Capi

Reddick will also be a blast to watch.  He has a great chance to be a starter as a rookie.  We all know how coach Bruce Arians is with rookies, but Reddick is the real deal.

That doesn’t mean Reddick will be automatically given the job.  He will need to show he can perform during training camp and preseason games.