Updated 2020 Cardinals 53 + 16

Background: MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 30: (L-R) SiriusXM host Pat Kirwan, NFL outside linebacker Chandler Jones of the Arizona Cardinals and SiriusXM host Jim Miller speak onstage during day 2 of SiriusXM at Super Bowl LIV on January 30, 2020 in Miami, Florida.

Today I am going to take a special teams’ first approach to predicting the Cardinals’ 53 man roster and 16 man practice squad.

ST (9): K-Zane Gonzalez, P-Andy Lee, LS-Aaron Brewer; S-Chris Banjo; CB-Charles Washington; LB-Dennis Gardeck; S-Zeke Turner; TE-Darrell Daniels; WR-Trent Sherfield

• Banjo and Washington are superior gunners.
• Gardeck, Turner, Daniels and Sherfield are mainstays on the majority, if not all, of the ST units.

QB (2): Kyler Murray; Brett Hundley

RB (3): Kenyan Drake; Chase Edmonds; Eno Benjamin

TE (2): Maxx Williams, Dan Arnold (Daniels)

WR (6): Larry Fitzgerald; DeAndre Hopkins; Christian Kirk; Andy Isabella, Hakeem Butler; KeeSean Johnson (Sherfield)

OL (9): D.J. Humphries; Justin Pugh; Mason Cole; J.R. Sweezy; Justin Murray; Kelvin Beachum; Brett Toth; Lamont Gaillard; Josh Jones

DL (6): Corey Peters; Zach Allen; Jordan Phillips; Jonathan Bullard; Leki Fotu; Rashard Lawrence

ILB (4): Jordan Hicks; Isaiah Simmons; De’Vondre Campbell; Evan Weaver (Gardeck)

OLB (4): Chandler Jones; Devon Kennard; Haason Reddick; Kylie Fitts

CB (5): Patrick Peterson, Robert Alford, Byron Murphy, Chris Jones, Zane Lewis (Washington)

S (3): Budda Baker; Jalen Thompson; Deionte Thompson (Banjo, Turner)

16 Man Practice Squad:

QB Chris Streveler; RB Jonathan Ward; TE Dylan Cantrell; WR Johnnie Dixon; WR Jo Jo Ward; T Joshua Miles; G/C Max Garcia; G Steven Gonzalez; DT Miles Brown; DE Michael Dogbe; ILB Tanner Vallejo; OLB Reggie Walker; S Kentrell Brice; CB Kevin Peterson; CB Jace Whitaker; P Ryan Winslow.

Last Man In On Offense:

T/G Brett Toth

Thus far the Cardinals have kept Brett Toth a well kept secret—-but I believe that they will not risk placing Toth on waivers and that Sean Kugler and Brian Natkin are going to mold him into a swing T/G and keep Lamont Gaillard as the swing C/G.

Because the Cardinals can activate a G from the practice squad on game days, they can stash Max Garcia and Steven Gonzalez on the practice squad. Garcia is the most at risk for getting claimed off waivers, but if he is, then the plan B would be to stash G/C Sam Jones in that slot.

Last Man In on Defense:

CB Zane Lewis

The Cardinals outbid other suitors for Lewis and know that other teams have a high grade on him. His talent is too clear to overlook. He has the length, feet, hips and ball skills that coaches covet. The Cardinals need young depth CB and Lewis provides it.

Last Man In on Special Teams:

CB Charles Washington

if Zane Lewis can challenge Charles Washington for the gunner job opposite Chris Banjo, then Washington might be waived and perhaps brought back to the practice squad. But, Lewis will have to absolutely shine in that role in practice, because Washington is one of the league’s best.