The Arizona Cardinals have started their roster trim early, and Christian Jones is the latest name to go.
Hours after the team traded running back Corey Kiner, Arizona reportedly waived the offensive tackle, its 2024 fifth-round pick. Jones had been with the Cardinals for two years, but his time in Arizona never really got off the ground. He appeared in just four games after being drafted out of Texas, starting one contest as a rookie while also landing on injured reserve in both prior seasons.
For Jones, the issue was simple: he never stayed on the field long enough to build momentum. With a new coaching staff under Mike LaFleur, he had a chance to hit reset and make a case for himself, but that window closed quickly. During training camp, the Cardinals mostly used him in third- and fourth-string work, and his preseason play didn’t stand out either.
Now Jones is on waivers, and if he clears, there’s a path for him to return to Arizona’s practice squad ahead of the 2026 season. The Cardinals hold third priority in the waiver order.
The deadline is looming, too. NFL teams have to get down to 53 players by Sunday at 6:00 PM EST/3:00 PM AZ time.
Arizona’s offensive line picture already looks pretty crowded, with the team likely carrying nine or 10 linemen. The starting five is basically set, and backups Jon Gaines and Josh Fryar appear to have a strong grip on roster spots. Rookie tackle Jayden Williams has climbed the depth chart nicely, and Hayden Conner looks like another likely keeper at guard.
That left Jones with an uphill battle from the start of camp, and he never found a way to change it.
His departure also adds another hit to an underwhelming 2024 Cardinals draft class. Marvin Harrison Jr. and Darius Robinson still haven’t matched the expectations attached to their names, and the same has been true for the rest of the group - Jones included.
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For teams calling around, the answer from Arizona has reportedly been the same: Sweat is not being moved right now. The Cardinals have already signaled through their general manager that they are not trading him, which makes the situation less about a deal getting done and more about whether the team can keep its pass-rush depth intact while the outside attention keeps building. [Read more 🡒]