The Arizona Cardinals trimmed their roster to 53 this past weekend, and while the team didn’t make a single waiver claim, several familiar names have already found new homes or circled back to Arizona.
One of the more notable exits was cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting. The veteran had reworked his contract to stay with the Cardinals earlier this offseason, gave Arizona the most experience in its cornerback room, and even slid into the slot while Garrett Williams recovered from injury. But once Williams returned sooner than expected, Murphy-Bunting slid down the depth chart and eventually got passed by younger players.
Linebacker Owen Pappoe is headed to Tennessee after losing out in a crowded inside linebacker group. Arizona chose late-round pick Karson Sharar for the job, leaving Pappoe - who brought speed, special teams value and three years of experience - on the outside looking in. A fresh start could be exactly what he needs.
Quarterback Kedon Slovis also landed elsewhere, and the Packers continue their unexpected Cardinals QB collection after adding Clayton Tune following cuts last season. Slovis looked headed for release after Arizona brought in Gardner Minshew and Carson Beck this offseason, but his preseason finale against Green Bay ended up working as a de facto audition.
The Cardinals also cut a group of players who were brought back the next day on the practice squad.
That still leaves a few players in free agency for now, and those names could end up on practice squads elsewhere before the season begins.
In Other News...
Jacoby Brissett Faces One Big Cardinals Question Before Week 1
Jacoby Brissett has spent the run-up to Week 1 trying to get as many reps and as much classroom time as he can after missing much of the offseason, and the Cardinals are clearly making the most of whats left before the real thing starts. Working alongside QB coach Matt Schaub, Brissett has been leaning into extra meetings and practice sessions to get comfortable with Mike LaFleurs new offense, a process that has put a premium on communication, terminology and feel.
For Arizona, the bigger issue is not whether Brissett can learn the playbook in time, but how quickly that work translates once the games count. The coaching staff has supported his adjustment every step of the way, which suggests the Cardinals are willing to be patient early if needed, even as they head toward a Week 1 opener with the quarterback transition still very much in progress. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Sending An Early Message About Their Rookie QB Plan
The Cardinals are taking a patient approach with their quarterback room heading into 2026, lining up Jacoby Brissett to open the season as the starter with Gardner Minshew behind him. For a team still sorting out its long-term answer under center, the decision gives Arizona a veteran-heavy safety net while it brings along rookie third-round pick Cason Beck at a slower pace.
Beck is expected to open the year as the third-string quarterback, which tells you plenty about how the Cardinals want to handle his development. Barring injuries, a slump from the top two passers or a late-season shift in the standings, his first real chance to play may not come until December or even later, when the team has a clearer read on its playoff position and the seasons bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Negotiation Tactic Is Raising Familiar Questions Again
The Cardinals have another extension done, this time with receiver Michael Wilson, whose new three-year deal was reported at $75 million. But the reaction around the negotiation says as much about Arizonas process as it does about the player, because the final agreement reportedly came after the club opened with a number well below where the talks eventually landed.
That pattern has started to feel familiar in the Valley, where the Cardinals have taken a patient, low-entry approach to major deals before moving closer to the mark. ESPNs Josh Weinfuss detailed the timeline, and the broader question is the same one that surfaced in previous negotiations: whether Arizona is simply grinding toward its price point or creating extra tension on the way there. [Read more 🡒]