The Arizona Cardinals’ first depth chart of the season didn’t bring many surprises, but it did clear up a few spots before Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
At quarterback and across the starting offensive line, the lineup matched expectations. The more interesting calls came a little further down the sheet, where the Cardinals showed how they plan to sort out some of their deeper personnel decisions.
One of the biggest eye-openers was at running back. Jeremiyah Love, the third overall pick in the draft, is not listed as the starter.
That role goes to Tyler Allgeier, who joined the team in free agency this offseason. The depth chart label only tells part of the story, though, since both players are expected to have meaningful roles in the offense.
Still, seeing a top-three pick on the bench rather than in the opening slot stands out.
Love also appears as a kick return option, listed third behind Devin Duvernay and Max Melton. That’s notable because Love took a few kick return reps early in OTAs, but he did not handle the job in training camp or the preseason.
Melton’s presence there is just as interesting, since he has not returned kicks in the NFL. The Cardinals also have Bam Knight and Jalen Brooks, both of whom have experience returning kicks, which makes the pecking order a little unusual.
At inside linebacker, the picture is settled for now. Jack Gibbens is listed as the starter next to Mack Wilson, while Cody Simon sits behind Wilson as the backup “Mike.” Simon should still get some run in the defensive rotation.
There’s also a clear message on the defensive line. Darius Robinson, a former first-round pick, is not in the starting group. Dante Stills is listed ahead of him at left defensive tackle.
At outside linebacker, the Cardinals went with a split designation, listing Baron Browning and Zaven Collins with an “or” between them opposite Josh Sweat. That arrangement was already familiar for much of last season.
In the secondary, the team made another change at free safety. Andrew Wingard is listed as the starter, with Jalen Thompson moved out of that spot. Rabbit Taylor-Demerson remains the No. 3 safety, as he was last season, and he is listed as the No. 2 strong safety behind Budda Baker.
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The positions alone tell the story here. Arizona is clearly keeping an eye on depth in the trenches and in the secondary, and any move that follows could end up pointing back to injuries already affecting the roster. Practice squad additions remain a possibility, but for now the Cardinals are still in evaluation mode with a few spots worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
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Chicago's reported interest adds another layer, especially with the Bears looking for help up front and a conditional 2027 fourth-round pick mentioned as a possible framework. The Cardinals are not believed to be shopping Sweat right now, but that stance could be tested if their competitive outlook shifts, which is why his status feels like a potential pivot point in the coming days. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Are Finally Closing In On A Crucial Jeremiyah Love Test
The Cardinals are finally getting a closer look at Jeremiyah Love after the rookie running back spent time recovering from injury. Head coach Mike LaFleur said Love will be ready to practice on Wednesday, giving Arizona its first real chance to assess how the No. 3 overall pick responds to a live workload and whether he can handle the daily grind without any setbacks.
For a team that already has James Conner and Tyler Allgeier in the backfield mix, the next step is less about rushing Love back and more about easing him into the rotation the right way. Arizona plans to build him up gradually, and this weeks practice stretch should tell the Cardinals plenty about where he stands and how close he is to becoming part of the offense for real. [Read more 🡒]