Arizona Cardinals have lots of options in the slot

With the loss of Antonio Cromartie, the Arizona Cardinals have some battling going on at cornerback. Veteran Jerraud Powers has the lead, but the question is more about who will play nickel corner.

Bruce Arians mentioned corners and safeties who could potentially see time at the position.

"We've got so many guys," he said. "Ty (Tyrann Mathieu) and Tony (Jefferon) and (Alfonzo) Dennard and we've got a bunch of nickels. Deone (Bucannon) has looked really good a couple of times, especially on tight ends, so we have great flexibility. And Justin (Bethel) can play outside and Jerraud can play inside."

Arizona has gotten great play from the slot guy for the past two seasons. It was where Mathieu played most of his snaps his rookie year in 2013 and made a huge impact. Powers did it last season and Arians has said he was the team's best corner.

The easy money is to say Powers will start outside and slide inside for nickel formations. That's what he has done forever.

"I've been playing nickel ever since college, starting on the outside and moving to the slot," Powers said. "When I did it last year, it wasn't like it was something new to me. It was what I did in Indianapolis as well."

He did say playing nickel is more fun "because you have more opportunities to make plays and the defense is suited for the nickel."

Powers is cool with whatever role he is given.

He says the depth and flexibility is "a good problem to have." Injuries play a factor and "you want to make sure your depth is good enough there's no dropoff in talent." The offseason is the time to find where players can fit in. That is what the Cardinals have been doing.