The NFL is a brutal business. While teams like to create a family atmosphere and a tight-knit culture, players can be cut without a second thought.
The Arizona Cardinals have added significant players to their roster this offseason through free agency and the NFL Draft. With so many players coming in, the time will soon come to balance the books.
One former Miami Hurricanes star and Cardinals special teams ace may be one of the first players to go.
DeeJay Dallas could get cut from the Arizona Cardinals
After a quality collegiate career, Arizona Cardinals running back DeeJay Dallas has had a quiet stint in the NFL. He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft and spent four years as a backup running back with the team.
After hitting free agency, Dallas signed a three-year, $8.25 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals.
During his lone season in the valley, Dallas has served mostly on special teams. He played over 250 snaps on special teams, including 15 kick returns. However, with Greg Dortch taking over the primary return role, Dallas may be on his way out.
He played only 19 offensive snaps last season, earning 9 carries for 49 yards.
If he can't make an impact as a kick returner, it will be difficult for DeeJay Dallas to find playing time as a running back. The Cardinals have a good group of backs, with James Conner, Trey Benson, and Emari Demercado listed ahead of Dallas in the projected depth chart. While Conner may be nearing the end of his career, Benson and Demercado are both relatively young.
Dallas only had about $2.4 million guaranteed in his contract with the Cardinals. Arizona could cut him without incurring a significant dead cap hit.
DeeJay Dallas's saving grace may be the health, or lack thereof, of the running backs ahead of him in Arizona. James Conner has been a reliable back for the Cardinals in recent years, but he will enter this season at 30 years old. If Conner goes down with an injury, the Cardinals will need to have competent depth pieces behid him. While DeeJay Dallas still likely wouldn't see many offensive snaps even in the case of a Conner injury, he could provide the Cardinals with the roster security they need.
DeeJay Dallas will be on the fringe of the Cardinals roster entering training camp this summer. This will be a story to watch moving forward.