Arizona Cardinals 53 Man Roster Projection

Cardinals 53 man roster projections have started trickling in, and like always, I think getting a 53 based on the names on the 90 man roster now is easy, but what names will be added?

Josh Weinfuss, the Arizona Cardinals blogger at ESPN, gave his 53 man roster projections with some commentary.

Here are my thoughts on his 53.

QB: Carson Palmer, Drew Stanton, Matt Barkley

Makes sense, Barkley gets the "in case of emergency" tag again, and a guy like Jacob Coker at best ends up on the practice squad.

RB: Chris Johnson, David Johnson, Andre Ellington, Stepfan Taylor

Weinfuss has not backed off his "Chris Johnson will start" prediction, but the names are not a surprise, with Stepfan Taylor's ability on special teams giving him the fourth spot.

WR: Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd, John Brown, JJ Nelson, Jaron Brown, Brittan Golden

Moving along

TE: Darren Fells, Jermaine Gresham, Ifeanyi Momah, Troy Niklas

The most interesting aspect, to me, is that Weinfuss believes that Troy Niklas could be the one bumped. The continued focus on a certain quarterback not on the roster being a bust over an actual bust is... fun?

OL: Evan Boehm, AQ Shipley, Mike Iupati, Evan Mathis, Eearl Watford, DJ Humphries, Jared Veldheer

After writing up Cole Toner, to see him left off is different. I think they keep eight, and dress seven with the Boehm/Shipley/Watford triumvirate able to work at all five positions in some form if need be.

Although we heard how much the Cardinals like Antoine McClain last year, so maybe they keep him over this years fifth round pick.

DL: Calais Campbell, Rodney Gunter, Josh Mauro, Robert Nkemdiche, Corey Peters, Frostee Rucker, Ed Stinson, Xavier Williams

Nothing overly complicated here. A talented group at the top with strong rotational depth at the bottom, I think the biggest battle is Stinson and Red Bryant for the last spot, unless they feel Rucker is no longer needed. The back end battle of this depth chart should be a good fight.

LB: Alani Fua, Gabe Martin, Kevin Minter, Markus Golden, Chandler Jones, Alex Okafor, Kareem Martin, Tristan Okpalaugo

No Shaq Riddick on the roster and no Deone Bucannon listed as a LB. The Canadian import Tristan Okpalaugo making the roster is not overly surprising, if Riddick makes a leap this year, Martin or Okafor may be in more trouble, but that means Riddick has to make that leap.

DB: Justin Bethel, Cariel Brooks, Harlan Miller, Patrick Peterson, Brandon Williams, Tyvon Branch, Deone Bucannon, Tony Jefferson, Tyrann Mathieu, DJ Swearinger

The list of names is young as Brooks, Miller and Williams fill out the corner depth chart. The Cardinals will need to either add a vet or hope these guys have a small learning curve.

Specials: Chandler Catanzaro, Drew Butler, Daniel Dillon

The only intrigue right now is at long snapper. Flip a coin, that's what Weinfuss did.

Overall: One of the things that really caught my eye was the fact that only four draft picks from 2016 made the roster as Marqui Christian and Cole Toner are both not on the final 53. Is the thought that they'll be moved to the practice squad if possible?

Anything else surprising?