The Arizona Cardinals are down to the last week of the preseason, and after three games plus a month of camp work, the roster picture is starting to sharpen. The big question now is simple: what does the final 53 look like when cuts come Sunday?
At quarterback, there’s no suspense in this projection. Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew and Carson Beck all make the cut, and that room “hasn’t changed” because, as the projection puts it, “This is what this room was always going to be.”
Running back looks mostly settled too, though there are some health questions hanging over it. Tyler Allgeier, Jeremiyah Love, James Conner and Bam Knight are projected to stay, even with Love possibly unavailable for Week 1 and Conner’s status still uncertain because he hasn’t practiced 11-on-11 yet.
Wide receiver is deeper, with Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, Kendrick Bourne, Devin Duvernay, Reggie Virgil and Jalen Brooks all projected in. Simi Fehoko is the notable name on the bubble, but he brings roster flexibility as a vested veteran. If Arizona moves on, he would not have to clear waivers, and his more than $1 million in salary guarantees make a practice-squad return seem easy if another team doesn’t jump in first.
Tight end is shaped by health, too. Tip Reiman is not expected back for Week 1, so the projection has him starting on PUP. That opens the door for Quitoriano, a blocker with a similar build to Reiman, to make the roster.
Up front, the offensive line projection runs nine deep: Paris Johnson, Isaac Seumalo, Hjalte Froholdt, Isaiah Adams, Elijah Wilkinson, Jon Gaines, Josh Fryar, Jayden Williams and Matt Pryor. Eight of those nine are described as locks.
Pryor is the one who stands out after a rough showing against the Cowboys, but his value comes from experience - he has been a full-season starter and can handle both tackle and guard. That edge is enough to keep him ahead of second-year guard Hayden Conner.
On defense, the line projection includes Walter Nolen, Roy Lopez, L.J. Collier, Darius Robinson, Andrew Billings and Dante Stills. Collier is said to have a starting role locked up, and if Arizona keeps seven there, Jonah Williams would likely be the next man in.
Outside linebacker is another group with a fairly clear shape. Josh Sweat is expected to come off PUP, while Zaven Collins, Baron Browning and Jordan Burch are all treated as locks.
Eku Leota gets the final projected spot over BJ Ojulari, helped by what he did in camp and preseason. One detail matters here: Leota has played 31 special teams snaps over the last two preseason games, which boosts his value at the back end of the roster.
Inside linebacker has Mack Wilson, Jack Gibbens, Cody Simon and Karsan Sharar projected to stick, with Sharar beating out Owen Pappoe.
Cornerback features Will Johnson, Denzel Burke, Max Melton, Garrett Williams, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Elijah Jones. Williams and Murphy-Bunting are projected to handle the slot, and Jones gets the final spot over the other corners. Melton is also a name to watch on the trade market.
Safety could still shift if Rabbit’s rib injury is serious enough to send him to injured reserve. If that happens, Isaiah Oliver is the name to monitor.
Special teams, for now, is considered set.
In Other News...
Cardinals Just Sent A Clear Message About Kyler Murrays Protection
The Cardinals took another step toward stabilizing the middle of their offensive line by locking up Hjalte Froholdt on a two-year extension that keeps him under contract through 2028. Since arriving in Arizona in 2023, Froholdt has been exactly what teams want from a center: dependable, durable and available every week, starting all 51 regular season games across his first three seasons with the club.
For a team trying to keep Kyler Murray upright and the offense on schedule, that kind of consistency matters. Froholdts role only grew in 2025, when he served as a team captain, and the extension signals the Cardinals view him as more than just a steady starter in the middle. It also leaves the rest of the line with a clearer anchor as Arizona continues building around its quarterback. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Just Sent A Clear Message About Their Offensive Direction
The Cardinals quietly made a pretty clear commitment to stability up front by locking in center Hjalte Froholdt on a two-year, $20 million extension. Froholdt has been one of the steadier pieces on the roster since arriving in Arizona, starting all 51 games he has played for the team and giving the offense a familiar anchor in the middle.
For a team trying to settle into a new direction under first-year head coach Mike LaFleur, that matters. Froholdt said he is excited to keep playing in Arizona and had praise for LaFleurs offensive approach, which suggests the Cardinals are not just paying for a reliable veteran, but also doubling down on the kind of line continuity that can help a changing offense take root. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Suddenly Have A Week 1 Backfield Problem
James Conners recovery is moving in the right direction, but the Cardinals still do not have a clean answer for Week 1. Mike LaFleur said the veteran back is progressing, yet stopped short of saying Conner will be ready for the opener, leaving Arizona to monitor one of the most important spots on the roster as the regular season approaches.
Jeremiyah Loves preseason high ankle sprain only adds to the uncertainty, and it leaves the backfield depth looking thinner than the Cardinals probably expected a few weeks ago. Tyler Allgeier and Bam Knight are now in position to shoulder more of the workload if needed, which makes the coming days around Conners status feel especially important for a team trying to settle its rotation before the opener. [Read more 🡒]