Welcome to the second installment of a seven-part look at the Arizona Cardinals’ pre-training camp roster, with next week’s start date closing in. After opening with the roster hopefuls in part one, this edition turns to the sixth tier: players who are trying to grow into something more.
This group is built around young Cardinals with room to climb. It includes first-, second- and third-year players, all of them carrying some level of upside and all of them trying to prove they can handle a bigger role on the field. The players in the tier are not ranked.
The tier includes Darius Robinson, Chase Bisontis, Max Melton, BJ Ojulari, Carson Beck, Jordan Burch, Elijah Jones, Kaleb Proctor, Reggie Virgil, Hayden Conner, Josh Fryar, Xavier Weaver and Tejhaun Palmer.
A chunk of Arizona’s rookie class shows up here, including draft picks from the second through fifth rounds. Jeremiyah Love is placed in a different tier, while Karson Sharar and Jayden Williams were listed in yesterday’s building-block group.
Among Bisontis, Beck, Proctor and Virgil, there’s plenty to like, even if the expectations vary. Each has a path to contributing soon, but there’s also a real chance none of the four is starting early in 2026.
Bisontis stands out as the one with the clearest shot at a starting job right away. In fact, he’s expected to beat out Isaiah Adams once camp begins. The rookie guard still has to prove it, though.
Weaver and Palmer are here because they offer at least some upside heading into next season, even if that upside is limited. While the tier wasn’t ordered, both sit near the bottom of it along with Hayden Conner and Elijah Jones.
The biggest attention, though, goes to Robinson, Melton and Ojulari. Each has fallen short of the buzz around him, whether because of injuries, poor play, or both. Nobody is being written off yet, but the pressure is real.
Burch enters the conversation after flashing during the preseason before fading in the 2025 regular season. He ran into the rookie wall, and the Cardinals would love a second-year jump from him, especially in an outside linebackers room that needs someone to emerge alongside Josh Sweat.
Tomorrow, the series shifts to Arizona’s steady and reliable starters.
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