Once the Arizona Cardinals figure out who their next coach will be, they will make rough decisions to decide who will stay and who will go.
There has already been some roster turnover in the Arizona Cardinals organization, with players like J.J. Watt and A.J. Green retiring. But this is just the beginning of what will be a roster makeover for the Redbirds.
Some players who leave the fans will miss, with Watt being one of them. Other players will be distant memories, some forgotten about. As for others, fans won’t miss them for a minute. Which players will leave that the fans would be perfectly okay seeing go? Here are three names.
1 – Rodney Hudson
Rodney Hudson’s tenure with the Arizona Cardinals has been, for the most part, unmemorable. He played in just 16 games since arriving in a trade back in 2021, and saw action in four contests this past season.
While Hudson restructured his contract and is signed through 2023, he may be the next Cardinal to retire. The obvious downside is that the Redbirds won’t have a clear-cut starter at center next season. But then again, many will believe it’s best Hudson rides off into the sunset given his turbulent tenure in the desert.
2 – Markus Golden
Golden is also signed through 2023, but he will be 32 this season on a team looking to get younger. If the Arizona Cardinals select someone like Will Anderson Jr. in April’s draft, they will opt to play him (or another edge rusher), plus youngsters like Cam Thomas and Myjai Sanders over Golden.
Given Golden’s spotty production last season, it makes more sense to play the rookies while the veteran latches on somewhere else next year. Even if Golden produces double-digit sacks again, fans won’t regret letting him go either via trade or by releasing him. He’s run his course with the Cardinals.
3 – A.J. Green
Green retired earlier this week, and given his play this past season, he probably should have hung it up last year. Even if the Arizona Cardinals trade DeAndre Hopkins, fans still won’t miss Green, considering his the way his production nosedived in 2022.
Look for the Cardinals to add a lanky target in either free agency or the draft to replace Green, and it will leave fans feeling satisfied. Green had his moments in the desert, but he made the right call to leave the game on his terms.
(Statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference)
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