53 Man Roster: Early Camp Edition

Quarterbacks:

Name	Age	Year	Roster?
Carson Palmer	33	11	Yes
Drew Stanton	29	7	Yes
Ryan Lindley	24	2	Yes
Caleb TerBush	23	R	PS

This probably the most obvious of the positions. Palmer is named the undeniable starter... Unless Stanton looks like Tom Brady and Palmer looks like Ryan Lindley. What will be the focus for the coaches and fans however in this position, is the battle for the #3 spot. It will likely go until the very last game of the Preseason, and I like TerBush, but I feel like from what I have read from people at Training Camp it's Lindleys job to lose by a vast margin.

Running-Back:

Name	Age	Year	Roster?
Rashard Mendnehall	26	6	Yes
Ryan Williams	23	3	Yes
Stepfan Taylor	22	R	Yes
Andre Ellington	24	R	Yes
Alfonso Smith	26	4	No

I know many people think that Smith could sneak onto the roster, but I don't see how we will carry five backs. By doing so that would mean one of our rookies go to the PS, where they will be easily attained, or this would mean Ryan Williams is shown the door in Arizona, which seems unlikely at this point. Smith is the odd man out, and if injuries hit this unit, I could very well see Smith brought in and kept into next year.

Wide Receivers:

Name	Age	Year	Roster?
Larry Fitzgerald	30	10	Yes
Michael Floyd	23	2	Yes
Andre Roberts	25	4	Yes
Robert Gill	29	1	Yes
Jaron Brown	23	R	Yes
Charles Hawkins	22	R	Yes
Dan Buckner	23	R	PS
LaRon Byrd	23	2	No
Jarett Dillard	27	4	No
Nick Edwards	23	R	PS
Tyler shaw	23	R	No
Kerry Taylor	24	1	No
Robby Toma	22	R	No

This one was a toughy... So much talent, but only 5-6 roster openings. The first three are set in stone, most likely. It's the last two or three slots that are up for grabs. If last season was any indication, Cardinal fans though Byrd would make the roster again this year, but Arians has called him out on several occasions about being inconsistent, and with the talent that's clamoring for the open spots he's likely not going to make it this year. Edwards has good size and could very well make the PS as could Buckner. I thought about Shaw, but we're already up to three PS guys.

Tight Ends:

Name	Age	Year	Roster?
Rob Housler	25	3	Yes
Jeff King	30	8	No
DC Jefferson	24	R	Yes
Jim Dray	26	4	Yes
Kory Sperry	28	5	Yes
Mickey Shuler	26	2	No
Alex Gottlieb	23	1	No

Last time I did this I had King making the roster, Jefferson heading to PS and Sperry heading home. However, with King's injury history, and his second surgery in two offseasons, he is very likely going to wind up injured sometime this season. Jefferson has been talked about a lot during camp with his one handed catch yesterday and his acrobatic catch the day before. I am not saying he is NFL ready, and until Preseason opens we won't know how he fairs against the oppositions defense, but he is a likely candidate to crack the 53 man roster.

Offensive Tackle:

Name	Age	Year	Side	Roster?
Nate Potter	25	2	Left	Yes
Levi Brown	29	7	Left	Yes
Eric Winston	29	8	Right	Yes
Bobby Massie	23	2	Right	Yes
Joe Caprioglio	23	R	Both	No
Paul Fanaika	27	4	Right	Yes
Jamaal Johnson-Webb	23	R	Right	PS

This is possibly the most talented unit the Cardinals have fielded in a long time. Potter will beat out Brown for the starting job, Winston will win the starting role on the right side. Fanaika has been playing a lot of guard, so I believe he'll make the roster as that and backup someone. I had Webb making the roster earlier this year, but I'll move him to the PS. We are now at 4 PS players.

Offensive Guard:

Name	Age	Year	Side	Roster?
Jonathan Cooper	23	R	Left	Yes
Chilo Rachal	27	6	Left	No
Daryn Colledge	31	8	Right	Yes/Trade Bait
Earl Watford	23	R	Right	Yes
Senio Kelemete	23	2	Right	No

I have been a staunch supporter of Kelemete since he was drafted last season. A) he has dreads and B) he's a high motor player. However, with the ability of the loser of the RT battle to shift inside, I believe he is the odd man out. I have Colledge as trade bait, and I contemplated it for Brown as well, but with Brown's lucrative contract he will likely not be picked up, and likely won't be cut either. Rachal I thought had the potential to steal a roster spot, but Cooper being signed now and Rachal's struggles... He's likely gone as well.

Center:

No table needed for this one, it comes down to Mike Gibson and Lyle Sendlein... Sendlein has him beat any day.

After this we have 26 players on our roster, leaving 27 spots available... Take into account that Jay Feely, Dave Zastudil, and Mike Leach are our Special Teamers, barring injury... That's 24 roster spots open for the Defense. We're also up to four Practice Squad Players thus far. What say you? Who gets the boot that I kept, and who stays that I gave the boot to?