As a young football team looking at a developmental season, it’s always exciting when rookies garnered recognition at Arizona Cardinals offseason workouts.
The Arizona Cardinals have a stellar rookie class for 2023 plus one player from the International Pathway Program who could find himself making the roster as well. Below, you will meet them and four other youngsters who, if they keep seeing their rep counts increase in training camp, will compete for some extended playing time once the regular season rolls around.
So who should you keep an eye on when camp commences late next month? Here are five players to know.
5 Arizona Cardinals who will compete for playing time in July
1 - Clayton Tune, QB
There are a lot of fans who were excited when the Arizona Cardinals drafted Clayton Tune in the fifth round back in April. And with Kyler Murray on the mend, expect the rookie to take advantage of the situation as he tries to show the Redbirds he can be the guy in 2023, and perhaps beyond.
With David Blough also missing time, Tune already took advantage with a strong showing in minicamp. And his efforts paid off, as he saw some action with the first team offense during team activities, which is a positive step in his pursuit to land the QB1 job.
2 - Kei-Trel Clark, CB
It seems like Kei’Trel Clark is already a fan favorite in the desert, and that trend will continue if the smallish corner keeps playing at a high level. Despite his small size, Clark held up well against the 6’2, 209 lb Michael Wilson, indicating that no target is too big for him to handle.
And Clark is walking into a good situation when training camp commences in July. He will be competing against the likes of Antonio Hamilton and permanent newcomer to the group Isaiah Simmons for a prominent role in the defensive backfield while third round pick Garrett Williams continues to work his way back onto the field.
3 - Paris Johnson Jr., T/G
Paris Johnson Jr. is the one player on this list guaranteed to get a lot of playing time this season at guard. But it’s important to remember that the Arizona Cardinals inevitably want Johnson to be their franchise left tackle. However, AZ Central’s Jose M. Romero revealed that Johnson also saw time at right tackle while last season’s starter Kelvin Beachum saw time on the second team.
Does this mean the Cards will swing Johnson over to right tackle throughout training camp and the preseason? If so, then Johnson could be on the fast track to play tackle in the NFL starting in Week 1 at the Washington Commanders.
4 - Michael Wilson, WR
Ever since the Arizona Cardinals drafted Michael Wilson in the third round, I’ve done nothing but claim the wideout was an absolute steal. In the offseason workouts, Wilson has proven me right so far, as he saw more than his fair share of snaps in team drills.
With DeAndre Hopkins gone, Wilson should be the frontrunner to line up opposite of Marquise Brown. And if he enjoys a solid training camp and preseason, expect him to be with the first unit come Week 1.
5 - Bernhard Seikovits, TE
Not technically a rookie in a traditional sense, but as part of the NFL’s International Pathway Program, Bernhard Seikovits has flown under the radar as a member of the Arizona Cardinals practice squad for a pair of seasons, having never appeared in a game. But with the tight end position looking relatively thin in 2023, Seikovits has been taking advantage of every chance the team has been giving him.
At 6’5, 262 lb, Seikovits could wind up on the team as a blocking tight end, but he’s shown off his hands during offseason workouts. But if the Cards become a team that builds an identity on running the football Seikovits should see a lot of time on the field.
Overall, these five young players could play a major role on the Cardinals this season as the team continues to phase out older players for younger talent. If they pick up in training camp where they left off during the summer, expect to hear their respective names called early and often.
Source: 7 Arizona Cardinals who stood out during offseason workouts by Jose M. Romero, AZCentral.com