The first half of Cardinals training camp has already started sorting out the roster, and the team’s initial depth chart is helping make the picture a little clearer. Some players have climbed.
Others have slid. And a few battles that looked wide open a few weeks ago are starting to tilt hard in one direction.
At receiver, the biggest early boost belongs to Bourne. Arizona had plenty of reason to feel good about Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson, with Wilson coming off a 1,000-yard season.
Bourne, though, was the wild card as the new WR3. So far, he’s answered every chance.
He’s been open often, has not been dropping passes, and the main mistake attached to him has been a false start penalty. The early verdict is simple: Bourne has been consistently consistent, and he’s given the Cardinals a major upgrade at WR3.
Benson’s camp has gone the other way. The former Day 2 pick entered the summer with plenty of attention on him, especially after two notable additions to his room left him fighting for a roster spot.
He has had a few moments, including a strong run down the left sideline that flashed the big-play burst he showed in college. But the broader story has been tough sledding.
His rehab from a meniscus injury from last season kept him out of team drills to open camp, and he has been behind Jeremiyah Love, Tyler Allgeier and Bam Knight in reps, not even counting James Conner.
Up front, Adams has turned what looked like a serious fight for a starting job into something much less dramatic. Entering the summer, he was viewed as a player on the verge of losing his right guard spot, especially after the Cardinals used a second-round pick on Chase Bisontis in April.
The firearm charges against Adams right before camp only added to the concern. Instead, Adams has been the clear favorite all summer, taking nearly 100% of the starting reps at right guard while Bisontis has been with the second unit.
What was supposed to be a battle has barely been one at all.
Wilkinson has not helped the offensive line picture. He took plenty of criticism for his play with the Atlanta Falcons last season, particularly in pass protection, and that issue has followed him into camp.
Cardinals outside linebackers have beaten him to the quarterback more than once, and that’s happened even without Josh Sweat healthy and practicing. He hasn’t been the worst player out there, but the line’s ceiling is tied to its weakest link, and right now that’s Wilkinson.
On the positive side, Williams has been one of the more encouraging stories. A seventh-round pick usually has to claw for every inch of roster security, but Williams has done more than that.
Injuries in college slowed him down, yet he has impressed early and climbed to second-team tackle. Josh Fryar appears to be the backup swing tackle on either side, but Williams is still getting valuable snaps with the second unit and looks close to making the team.
Taylor-Demerson lands in the “loser” category only in a relative sense. Arizona is expected to lean on three safeties often in 2026, so this is not a dead end by any stretch.
Still, he was supposed to step into a starting role this year after strong play as a reserve and with Jalen Thompson leaving in free agency. When Andrew Wingard signed, he didn’t draw much attention because Taylor-Demerson seemed like the obvious answer.
Instead, Wingard, who started for Jacksonville last year, has emerged as the early starter next to Budda Baker.
In Other News...
Cardinals Backup QB Battle Could Get Complicated Faster Than Expected
Jacoby Brissett is set to open as the Cardinals quarterback through 2026, which gives Arizona a clear top of the depth chart for now. Behind him, though, the backup picture is already worth watching. Gardner Minshew currently sits in that spot, with rookie Carson Beck lined up behind him, giving the team a mix of experience and upside as it sorts through its long-term plans at the position.
The bigger question comes after the season, when the Cardinals will have to decide how Beck fits into the picture going forward. His future role is still tied to how he develops and how much playing time he can get, and that makes the backup battle more than just a routine training-camp storyline. If Beck starts closing the gap, Arizona could be staring at a much more complicated quarterback conversation sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Sweat's Recovery Keeps Pressure On Cardinals Pass Rush Plans
Josh Sweat is still on the Cardinals active/Physically Unable to Perform list as training camp rolls on, leaving Arizona to manage one of its more important pass-rush situations with patience. Head coach Mike LaFleur said Sweat is continuing to build, and the team has been careful not to force the issue while he works through his recovery.
The Cardinals can still activate Sweat before final roster cuts, but for now the focus is on keeping the long view intact rather than pushing for an early return. In a camp where every snap matters, that leaves Arizona balancing the need for edge pressure with the broader plan for Sweats health and readiness when he does get back. [Read more 🡒]
Larry Fitzgerald Finally Gets His Moment On Footballs Biggest Stage
Larry Fitzgerald is finally headed to Canton, a fitting stop for one of the most respected players of his generation and one of the most accomplished figures in Cardinals history. He will join Drew Brees, Roger Craig, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Ohio, with Fitzgerald and Brees going in on the first ballot and Craig earning his place through the senior committee.
For Arizona fans, Fitzgeralds selection feels like a long-awaited celebration of a career built on production, durability and dignity. The Class of 2026 also carried some notable omissions, with coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft not making the cut, but the spotlight in Canton will still belong to a receiver whose legacy has been obvious for years even before the Hall of Fame made it official. [Read more 🡒]