The Arizona Cardinals have a talented back in James Conner, but they don’t have much more behind him. Or are they in better shape than many believe?
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Arizona Cardinals upgraded their running backs before the regular season began. Next to James Conner, you have basically nothing, as Keaontay Ingram struggled when given a chance, while Corey Clement and Ty’Son Williams have limited ceilings.
Emari Demercado is intriguing, but as an undrafted rookie, he has more than an uphill battle to climb if he wants to make the roster. And again, there is the possibility that the Redbirds roll with a free agent before the season begins if no one listed below impresses them.
So how does this group rank? Keep reading for the rundown.
All five running backs for the 2023 Arizona Cardinals ranked
5 - Keaontay Ingram
Keaontay Ingram played in 12 games last season and logged 22 carries for 60 yards, good for just 2.2 yards per carry. He also had four receptions on five targets for 21 yards. Overall, Ingram’s play was uninspiring, and it’s likely he will be cut in training camp unless he shows exponential growth.
If Arizona brings in another back, then Ingram is most certainly the odd man out. His best chance to make the squad is if he proves his value in another avenue, like special teams.
4 - Emari Demercado
I resisted the temptation to rank Emari Demercado higher, but the truth is, all three backs ahead of him have at least established themselves as serviceable when pressed into action. Meanwhile, Demercado has yet to play a single down in the NFL.
However, the intriguing back never had much of a chance to prove his worth in college, so if he gets an extended look with the Arizona Cardinals, don’t be surprised if he climbs in these rankings by the time the regular season rolls around. He’s definitely one to watch in a couple of months.
3 - Ty’Son Williams
Ty’Son Williams’ size jumps out at me more than anything else. At 6’0, 220 lb, Williams could most likely step in and carry the load if needed, but he’s not the most proven player in this league, despite putting up good numbers when he was with the Baltimore Ravens in 2021.
That year, he recorded 35 carries, rushed for 185 yards, logged a touchdown, and averaged 5.3 yards per carry. And while he will be 27, which is at least middle-aged for a back, it’s also important to remember Williams was 24 by the time his rookie season rolled around, giving him more tread than most running backs at his age.
2 - Corey Clement
Corey Clement is another back who produced when called upon, but the 28-year-old hasn’t been the most consistent back out there. However, like Williams, Clement should be rather fresh despite being in the league since 2017, as he has just 211 career carries, and 142 of them came in 2017 and 2018.
Overall, however, I could see the Cardinals ultimately going with a younger talent in favor of the aging Clement. If Ingram impresses, he will get the nod over the journeyman, as will the rookie in Demercado. The only way I see Clement maintaining his ranking is if Ingram and Demercado fail to impress.
1 - James Conner
And finally, we got James Conner, whose Number One ranking should come as no surprise. When healthy, Conner has been a consistent player, who came on strong last season even if the Arizona Cardinals as a whole regressed.
So far in his career with the Cards, Conner has 1,534 yards on 385 carries, good for a 4.0 average. He also has 22 rushing touchdowns, 83 receptions, 675 receiving yards, and four touchdowns through the air.
If Conner can stay healthy throughout the 2023 season, he will be the team’s RB1 unless Ingram or Demercado exceed everyone’s wildest expectations. Therefore, look for Conner to remain a pivotal part of the offense, especially early on since quarterback Kyler Murray is expected to miss time during the season’s opening weeks.
Overall, the Cardinals don’t have a strong group of running backs, but Conner is an exception. Further, Demercado is the most intriguing of the group, and don’t be surprised if he eventually works his way into an RB2 role.
(Statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference)