clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

NFL roster cuts: Half of the Arizona Cardinals 53-man roster are new to the team

As can be expected, after their 5-11 showing in 2012, the new leadership has completely made over the roster

By Jess Root
USA TODAY Sports

While we assume that the Arizona Cardinals are not yet done with churning their roster, but for now we can see that the coaching staff and front office did not believe that winning would happen with the roster as it was constituted. A 5-11 season will do that, especially losing 11 of their final 12 games.

The result? Half the roster was not on the team last year.

Here are the players that were not on the team in 2012

  • Quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton
  • Running backs Rashard Mendenhall, Stepfan Taylor and Andre Ellington
  • Receiver Jaron Brown
  • Tight end D.C. Jefferson
  • Offensive linemen Paul Fanaika, Eric Winston and Earl Watford
  • Defensive lineman Frostee Rucker
  • Linebackers Lorenzo Alexander, Jasper Brinkley, Karlos Dansby, Matt Shaughnessy, Kevin Minter, John Abraham and Kenny Demens
  • Defensive backs Jerraud Powers, Antoine Cason, Javier Arenas, Bryan McCann, Tyrann Mathieu, Yeremiah Bell and Tony Jefferson.

That is 26 of the final 53. Yes, seven of those players were drafted by the team this year (and Jonathan Cooper is on injured reserve), but with a closer look, you will note that nine starters are new to the team.

If the Cardinals also bring in some players off waivers, depending on who gets cut, that number of newcomers could go up.

Will the roster turnover change things? Well, one thing is sure -- sticking with the personnel of a 5-11 team probably wasn't going to cut it.

More from Revenge of the Birds:

In This Stream

NFL roster cuts: Arizona Cardinals work to find their final 53 men

View all 25 stories

More From Revenge of the Birds