Nobody's roster spot is safe in the NFL. If players fail to perform, teams are often quick to show them the door.
The Arizona Cardinals have had a masterful offseason, bringing in key free agents and acing all seven of their picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. This roster is loaded with more talent than it's had in years.
Unfortunately, there are only 53 spots on a final roster. Several players currently on the squad will be cut before the start of the season. Just one year after being drafted, these three Arizona Cardinals are at risk of missing out on a final roster spot.
These 3 Cardinals 2024 draft picks may not make the 2025 roster
Xavier Thomas
The former Clemson edge rusher is the only player on this list who earned significant playing time in 2024. Xavier Thomas logged over 200 snaps on defense and contributed on special teams in his rookie season. He even produced three sacks, two of them coming against the Chicago Bears.
The Cardinals selected Oregon edge rusher Jordan Burch in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Burch can play anywhere across the defensive line, but he may function primarily on the edge due to the Cardinals' depth on the interior.
Arizona also signed Josh Sweat in fre agency and brought back Baron Browning Jr. With Zaven Collins and B.J. Ojulari also expected to play a role, there may not be room for Thomas.
Tejhaun Palmer
Tejhaun Palmer, the Cardinals' sixth-round selection in 2024, didn't actually make Arizona's final roster in his rookie season. He spent the year on the practice squad.
Now, Palmer will look to work himself into the Cardinals' receiver rotation in his second year. Arizona did very little to address their need at receiver aside from signing undrafted free agent Bryson Green. This gives Palmer an opportunity to earn a roster spot this season.
Elijah Jones
Elijah Jones, the second-year cornerback out of Boston College, is on the brink of being cut, by no fault of his own. The Cardinals spent a third-round pick on Jones in 2024, making him the highest-drafted player on this list. However, Jones suffered a heel injury that would sideline him for the entirety of the 2024 season.
This offseason, the Cardinals spent two draft picks on cornerbacks. Both Will Johnson and Denzel Burke are expected to make Arizona's final roster. With Garrett Williams, Max Melton, Sean Murphy-Bunting, and Starling Thomas all likely to make the team, Elijah Jones's time with the Cardinals may end before it even starts.