The Arizona Cardinals have their initial 53-man roster set, and roster cut weekend delivered a little bit of everything: a few obvious wins, a couple of surprises, and some notable names on the wrong side of the numbers.
The biggest headline on the plus side might be Wydett Williams. Weeks ago, he was mentioned in a lawsuit that would have allowed him to return to school for another year of college football, which made his situation unusually messy.
Instead of having to sort through that decision, Williams made Arizona’s initial roster. He became a rare fifth safety on an NFL team, a choice that stood out even more because the Cardinals kept only three running backs and three tight ends.
It would not be a shock if he is inactive on game days, since only 48 players will dress, but just being on the roster was a major win. Head coach Mike LaFleur even joked about him going back to college.
Another clear winner was Xavier Sharar. Sixth-round linebackers, especially undersized ones, usually have a tough road, and Sharar had that working against him from the start.
He changed the conversation on special teams, though, stacking up multiple plays across the preseason and ultimately beating out backup Owen Pappoe for a spot. That kind of climb makes his inclusion one of the more impressive outcomes from the weekend.
Jordan Williams also earned his place the hard way. A seventh-round tackle with an injury history from college, he came into camp with little margin for error.
Instead of fading, he pushed past a number of veteran offensive tackles and claimed second-team tackle duties. His roster spot ranks right up there with Wydett Williams as one of the most impressive keeps.
Leota belongs in the winner column too. He’s now on his fourth team in three seasons, but he made a real case in Arizona.
The Cardinals needed someone to bring juice opposite Josh Sweat after a season in which the pass rush offered little pressure. Leota didn’t just hang around; he stood out in camp and preseason enough to beat out former second-round pick Myjai Ojulari.
In a room where spots are earned, he earned his.
Knight was another beneficiary of the way the roster shook out. He had been easy to overlook in a crowded running back group, but injuries and opportunity opened the door for him to flash again after previously making the active 53-man roster.
With James Conner on injured reserve, Knight was one of three backs retained alongside Jeremiyah Love and Tyler Allgeier. That gives him a real early chance to carve out work as a change-of-pace back and special teams contributor.
The Cardinals also kept seven receivers, which is not exactly a routine move. That crowded room produced one of the weekend’s losers in Ihmir Smith-Marsette.
He had entered camp with an early edge, but Simi Fehoko and Jalen Brooks passed him during preseason play. Smith-Marsette did land on the practice squad, though it does not look like he is headed for a big role on game days with so many receivers ahead of him.
Myjai Ojulari is the biggest name Arizona let go. It was not a shocking cut, but it was still the most recognizable departure.
Ojulari had looked good before a knee injury ahead of the 2024 season, and he never really got back to that level. Eku Leota outplayed him, and Ojulari cleared waivers.
He is now free to sign anywhere, but there is no hiding the fact that he has a steep climb ahead if he is going to get back to his previous potential.
Murphy-Bunting was the other major name to exit. Arizona moved him back to slot corner this offseason to stabilize the position until Garrett Williams was healthy, but once Williams came off PUP, Murphy-Bunting’s value dropped fast.
Even though he brought the most experience in the cornerback room, the Cardinals moved on. He cleared waivers and is now back with the Buccaneers on their practice squad, where he has to learn a new defense and start over near the bottom of the depth chart.
Thomas also fell victim to a crowded cornerback situation. He tore his ACL before last season and never quite got back on track in time to secure his spot.
When healthy, he was projected to be Arizona’s starting cornerback in 2025, but that plan unraveled badly. He is back on the practice squad, so the door is not shut, but the signs were there when he was seeing late-game action in Green Bay.
For the Cardinals, the weekend was less about a single splashy move and more about how camp performances reshaped the roster. Some players forced their way in.
Others lost ground and never recovered. And a few, like Leota and Sharar, turned unexpected opportunities into real roster spots.
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