Cardinals Pre-Camp 53 Man Roster Prediction

Background: SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 22: Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury of the Arizona Cardinals looks on prior to taking on the Seattle Seahawks during their game at CenturyLink Field on December 22, 2019 in Seattle, Washington.

Word is the NFLPA and NFL are on the verge of coming to agreement on player salaries with regard to the various scenarios that could occur during the 2020 season. The latest rumor is that if the season gets reduced or cancelled, the players who have guaranteed money for this season would be given the full figure, while those who do not have guaranteed money would receive game checks for the number of games played.

Furthermore, it appears that the NFLPA is making progress in persuading the owners to spread out whatever the financial losses are on this season to several years of salary caps, rather than to drastically reduce the 2021 and 2022 caps.

Assuming that the agreements will be made in time for the training camps to start, here is my pre-camp 53 man roster prediction for the Cardinals. Let’s call it:

All The Kingsbury’s Men

• Because of the unprecedented nature of this off-season and the fact that there will be an 18 day “ramp up” period before players don the full pads, plus no pre-season games, the veterans on the roster will get the majority of reps—-therefore, the younger, less tested players will likely be vying for the 12 practice squad spots—-which this year could involve game time for the players who are brought up for a game or two or more.
• QB (3): 1-Kyler Murray, 7-Brett Hundley, 15-Chris Streveler.
• RB (3): 41-Kenyan Drake, 29-Chase Edmonds, 26-Eno Benjamin
• TE (3): 87-Maxx Williams, 85-Dan Arnold, 82-Dylan Cantrell
• WR (7): 10-DeAndre Hopkins, 11-Larry Fitzgerald, 13-Christian Kirk, 89-Andy Isabella, 17-Hakeem Butler, 19-KeeSean Johnson, 14-Jo Jo Ward
• OL (9): 74-D.J. Humphries, 67-Justin Pugh, 52-Mason Cole, 64-J.R. Sweezy, 76-Marcus Gilbert, 68-Kelvin Beachum, 65-Lamont Gaillard, 71-Justin Murray, 79-Josh Jones
• DL (7): 94-Zach Allen, 98- Corey Peters, 97-Jordan Phillips, 90-Jonathan Bullard, 95-Leki Fotu, 92-Rashard Lawrence, 91-Michael Dogbe
• ILB (4): 58-Jordan Hicks, 59-De’Vondre Campbell, 45-Dennis Gardeck, 50-Evan Weaver
• OLB (4): 55-Chandler Jones, 42-Devon Kennard, 43-Haasan Reddick, 49-Kylie Fitts
• Hybrid/Flex LB/S (1): 48-Isaiah Simmons
• S (4): 32-Budda Baker, 34-Jalen Thompson, 35-Deionte Thompson; 31-Chris Banjo
• CB (5): 21-Patrick Peterson, 23-Robert Alford, 33-Byron Murphy, 25-Chris Jones, 38-Zane Lewis
• ST (3): 5-Zane Gonzalez, 3-Andy Lee, 46-Aaron Brewer

Practice Squad (12):

• RB 38-Jonathan Ward
• TE 81-Darrell Daniels
• WR 12-Johnnie Dixon
• T 78-Brett Toth
• T 66-Joshua Miles
• G 61-Steven Gonzalez
• NT 72-Miles Brown
• DE 93-Trevon Conley
• ILB 51-Tanner Vallejo
• OLB 56-Reggie Walker
• S 47-Ezekiel Turner
• CB 36-Jace Whitaker

Toughest Calls:

• Keeping 7 WRs over 10 OL (but keeping 3 OL on the PS was a factor)
• Keeping Chris Banjo over Zeke Turner and Charles Washington—-this one could be a toss-up, as any of these 3 can win that spot. Not sure if there is room for 2 of the 3, however.

Players I Might Be Underestimating:

• TE 81-Darrell Daniels
• WR 16-Trent Sherfield
• WR 12-Johnnie Dixon
• G/C 73-Max Garcia
• G 62-Sam Jones
• T 78-Brett Toth
• T 66-Joshua Miles
• NT 72-Miles Brown
• DT 93-Trevon Conley
• DE 91-Michael Dogbe
• ILB 51-Tanner Vallejo
• OLB 54-Vontarrius Dora
• CB 27-Kevin Peterson
• P 6-Ryan Winslow

How many of the 53 and 12 PS do you like? What moves would you change?