NFL.com predicts the Arizona Cardinals starting defense

We are a long ways away from the start of the 2017 NFL season, but that doesn’t mean we are not getting names and predictions for the Arizona Cardinals.

One of the most interesting predictions I saw was the starting lineup of the Arizona Cardinals defense from NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal:

DE: Robert Nkemdiche
DT: Corey Peters
OLB: Chandler Jones
ILB: Haason Reddick
ILB: Karlos Dansby
OLB: Markus Golden
CB: Patrick Peterson
CB: Justin Bethel
S: Tyrann Mathieu
S: Budda Baker
S: Tyvon Branch

This is a really different list. No Antoine Bethea, no Brandon Williams, obviously Reddick starting over Deone Bucannon because of the injury concern, but there is a lot to digest here.

I get Rosenthal’s idea on only two defensive line starters, even if that won’t happen:

Only two defensive linemen are listed, partly because Chandler Jones and Markus Golden act like defensive ends on many snaps. Players like Corey Peters, Rodney Gunter, Frostee Rucker and Josh Mauro will pick up the slack for the departed Calais Campbell, but they all figure to rotate without playing true starter snaps.

However, they are expecting more from Rodney Gunter and Josh Mauro, in fact I wouldn’t be shocked if Mauro and Gunter are the starters with Peters, letting Nkemdiche work his way in in preferred situations.

Check out the article from Rosenthal and let me know what you think on his takes on the Arizona Cardinals defense.