These Cardinals players are locks to make the final roster
The Arizona Cardinals officially begin training camp with the entire team on Tuesday, as it is reporting day for veterans. Rookies and quarterbacks have been with the team since Thursday.
It is the beginning of the battle to make the final 53-man roster.
Some players are already locks to make the team. Others are on the bubble and others are longshots.
Below are the players in each position group that will certainly be on the final roster.
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Quarterback
(AP Photo/Matt York)
Kyler Murray, Colt McCoy
The battle will be for the third quarterback on the roster. Both Murray and McCoy got new contracts.
Running back
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James Conner, Darrel Williams, Eno Benjamin
Jonathan Ward is almost a lock, but if rookie Keaontay Ingram can be great on special teams, that might bump Ward. Benjamin has gotten so much praise from Kliff Kingsbury, it would be nothing short of a shock if he doesn’t make the team.
Wide receiver
DeAndre Hopkins, Hollywood Brown, A.J. Green, Rondale Moore
Hopkins technically will not make the final 53-man roster because his suspension will begin and he will bypass the roster. But these four receivers are the sire things for the team.
Tight end
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Zach Ertz, Maxx Williams, Trey McBride
The only question will be whether Williams starts the year on PUP.
Offensive line
(AP Photo/Brett Carlsen)
D.J. Humphries, Justin Pugh, Rodney Hudson, Will Hernandez, Kelvin Beachum, Josh Jones, Justin Murray
The battle will be for the final two or three spots on the roster.
Defensive line
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J.J. Watt, Zach Allen, Rashard Lawrence, Leki Fotu
Michael Dogbe and Kingsley Keke have the same unguaranteed contract and probably are likely to make the team, but they are not certainties.
Outside linebacker
Markus Golden, Devon Kennard, Dennis Gardeck, Cameron Thomas, Myjai Sanders
The two third-round rookies would have to be very bad in camp and the preseason to not make the team. It will be tough for Victor Dimukeje and Jesse Luketa.
Inside linebacker
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Isaiah Simmons, Zaven Collins, Nick Vigil, Zeke Turner
Turner is a lock for special teams. Vigil signed this offseason and Simmons and Collins are the expected starters as former first-round picks.
Cornerback
(AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Byron Murphy, Marco Wilson
These are the only locks for the roster. The rest will be a battle. Antonio Hamilton, who has $500,000 in fully guaranteed salary, is pretty close to a lock.
Safety
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Budda Baker, Jalen Thompson, Charles Washington
Washington is a lock for his play on special teams. After that, it isn’t certain.
Specialists
(AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Matt Prater, Andy Lee, Aaron Brewer
Barring serious injury, this will be the kicking battery again.
