clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Seven potential cuts for the Arizona Cardinals this offseason.

Rob gives you his thoughts on seven potential Arizona Cardinals who could be cut this offseason.

NFL: St. Louis Rams at Arizona Cardinals Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

In an effort to expand the writing staff I am opening up an opportunity for people to write.

First off, there are no paid positions available on the staff, I work with the budget I am given and that is at $0 right now, but I wanted to get that out of the way first just in case anyone had an inkling.

Second, I am happy to allow any and all of you an opportunity to write, so if you are interested, write something and send it to me, my email is in the bio.

Rob reached out to me on Twitter and then blew me away with what he sent me.

Note: I am waiting to get Rob’s information to put him on the title, but you can find his Twitter here, reach out and let him know what you think. He is taking a chance and I appreciate it.

Here is Rob’s first article on who to try and keep and who to let go among the Arizona Cardinals 2017 free agents.

Called out by Arians as a ‘failure in progress’ Bethel struggled all year at cornerback due to a lingering foot injury that caused him to miss every offseason practice. However, he played his best football in the last two games of the season and he felt he was finally back to full speed and was able to play to his capabilities. Showed versatility in the slot and still possesses the raw athleticism that caused coaches to state he had greater potential than Patrick Peterson. Finally healthy and with an offseason to train, can he put it all together in 2017? Would be big surprise if he was not on the roster next season despite the cap savings.

Tyvon Branch is the most likely candidate for release given the promising play of Justin Bethel and Harlan Miller in the slot and free safety respectively at the end of the season. Has the dubious honor of being the first player in NFL history to be placed on IR twice in a single season. The rehabilitation of Tyrann Mathieu and contract discussions with Tony Jefferson and D.J. Swearinger may well factor into this decision. With 1 year left on his contract with healthy cap savings/dead money figures the team has flexibility.

Corey Peters is on this list because of the potential cap savings and proportionally small dead money figure. In reality he is safe (and potentially vital) because of positive on-field play in the trenches and veteran presence in a position group that may be losing Calais Campbell and Frostee Rucker. However, is there an argument to be made for saving the money and letting Rodney Gunter re-assume the role he played so well in as a rookie?

I believe in Troy Niklas’s talent. He was always going to need a year in the league to develop and hone his craft as he would have benefited from another year with the Fighting Irish before turning pro. Injuries have crippled his career so far but training camp reports and preseason flashes hint at the tantalizing potential that lead to him being selected in the 2nd round with Heath Miller comparisons. The butt of one of my all-time favorite draft quotes he ‘looks like a 10 year old who has swallowed a bear.’ One more training camp to make an impression and stay healthy.

Even if Arizona can find minimum wage players to fill Martin’s and Stinson’s roster spots the savings would still be slight (bordering on insignificant). They should both return to training camp to compete but good teams should be looking to upgrade this type of player and churn the bottom of the roster.

As I understand t Daryl Washington’s cap number does not count against the Cardinals cap whilst he is suspended. His situation is murky to say the least and everyone is waiting for more information. Not in Arizona’s plans.