Cardinals’ 1st Depth Chart Questions

Background: July 30, 2021; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals cornerbacks, from left, Daryl Worley, Malcolm Butler, Darqueze Dennard, Marco Wilson and Byron Murphy Jr., look on during Cardinals training camp at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on July 30, 2021. Mandatory Credit: David Wallace-USA TODAY NETWORK

According to azcentral.com’s Jeremy Cliff:

(https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/cardinals/2021/08/09/arizona-cardinals-depth-chart-roster-nfl-preseason/5545731001/)

The Arizona Cardinals have released their depth chart heading into their preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys on Friday, their first depth chart of the season.

Offense:

WR | 18 A.J. Green | 17 Andy Isabella | 82 Andre Baccellia | 84 Aleva Hifo

Q: Does the speed depth at this spot indicate that Kliff Kingsbury views the WR opposite DeAndre Hopkins as a deep threat who will pose a dilemma for a single high safety who normally would want to shade toward D-Hop?

LT | 74 D.J. Humphries | 66 Josh Miles | 60 Koda Martin

Q: Sean Kugler has described Joshua Miles as “the most improved offensive lineman.” Does this mean that Miles is a lock to make the 53 man roster?

LG | 67 Justin Pugh | 64 Sean Harlow | 62 Shaq Calhoun

Q: Is Sean Harlow a dark horse to make the 53 man roster?

C | 61 Rodney Hudson | 73 Max Garcia | 72 Michael Menet | 53 Marcus Henry

Q: Does Michel Menet’s C/G versatility give him a 53 man roster edge?

RG | 71 Justin Murray | 65 Brian Winters | 75 Branden Bowen

Q: With today’s Earl Watford sighting at the team facility, will the Cardinals sign him, especially now that Brian Winters is injured?

RT | 68 Kelvin Beachum | 79 Josh Jones | 76 Ryan Pope

Q: Is Josh Jones being groomed at Kelvin Beachum’s successor at right tackle?

TE | 87 Maxx Williams | 81 Darrell Daniels | 48 Ross Travis | 89 Ian Bunting | 86 Cary Angeline | 43 Bernhard Seikovits

Q: In light of today’s superb TD pass from Colt McCoy to athletic TE Ross Travis, could Travis be this year’s version of Dan Arnold?

WR | 13 Christian Kirk | 85 Rondale Moore | 14 JoJo Ward | 80 Rico Gafford | 38 Greg Dortch

Q: Can Christian Kirk handle the slot well enough to play ahead of camp sensation Rondale Moore?

WR | 10 DeAndre Hopkins | 19 KeeSean Johnson | 33 Antoine Wesley | 83 A.J. Richardson

Q: Does former Texas Tech standout Antoine Wesley have a chance to beat out KeeSean Johnson for the “big receiver” role behind DeAndre Hopkins?

QB | 1 Kyler Murray | 12 Colt McCoy | 15 Chris Streveler

Q: Will the Cardinals keep al three QBs on the 53 man roster?

RB | 2 Chase Edmonds |6 James Conner | 29 Jonathan Ward | 37 D.J. Foster | 26 Eno Benjamin | 41 Ito Smith | 37 Tavien Feaster

Q: Isn’t D.J. Foster on the Toronto Argonauts? Who will win the RB3 job?

Defense:

DT | 99 J.J. Watt (PUP list) | 94 Zach Allen | 91 Michael Dogbe

Q: Isn’t Zach Allen going to start opposite J.J., Watt at 34DE?

NT | 90 Rashard Lawrence | 98 Corey Peters | 93 David Parry | 70 Darius Kilgo

Q: Wouldn’t Leki Fotu factor in at NT as well?

DT | 97 Jordan Phillips | 95 Leki Fotu | 78 Cam Murray

Q: What in the world is going on with Jordan Phillips?

OLB | 55 Chandler Jones | 45 Dennis Gardeck (PUP) | 92 Victor Dimukeje | 57 Jamell Garcia-Williams

Q: Are the Cardinals grooming Dennis Gardeck to be Chandler Jones’ successor at WOLB?

ILB | 9 Isaiah Simmons | 51 Tanner Vallejo | 47 Ezekiel Turner | 54 Terrance Smith

Q: Was the Cardinals promise to Tanner Vallejo to increase his snaps a design to free up Isaiah Simmons to play other positions on the field?

ILB | 25 Zaven Collins | 58 Jordan Hicks | 50 Evan Weaver

Q: With LBC Billy Davis conceding that he “overplayed” Jordan Hicks last year, does this mean Hicks will still have a prominent role in an ILB rotation this year?

OLB | 44 Markus Golden | 42 Devon Kennard | 49 Kylie Fitts | 56 Reggie Walker

Q: Can any of these SAM OLBs be the kind of athlete in contain and pass coverage that Haasan Reddick was?

CB | 7 Byron Murphy Jr. | 30 Darqueze Dennard | 20 Marco Wilson | 39 Jace Whittaker

Q: Does the excellent interception Darqueze Dennard plucked off Kyler Murray this week solidify his chances for a 53 man roster spot?

CB | 21 Malcolm Butler | 23 Robert Alford | 37 Daryl Worley | 32 Tay Gowan | 35 Picasso Nelson

Q: Is Tay Gowan really the CB4 at this spot?

S | 34 Jalen Thompson | 22 Deionte Thompson | 28 Charles Washington | 43 Donald Rutledge

Q: This is the SS spot, thus why isn’t Shawn Williams listed here?

S | 3 Budda Baker | 31 Chris Banjo | 36 Shawn Williams | 38 James Wiggins | 27 Jamal Carter

Q: Will James Wiggins make his case for the Cardinals to keep six safeties on the 53 man roster?

Specialists:

K | 5 Matt Prater

Q: Will the Cardinals win the close games they lost last year now that they have Matt Prater on board?

P | 4 Andy Lee | 16 Tyler Newsome

Q: Does Tyler Newsome, by virtue of his epic hangtimes and ability to take over kickoff duties, have a legit chance to edge out a superb veteran like Andy Lee?

LS | 46 Aaron Brewer

Q: Has Aaron Brewer evolved into one of the top long snappers in the NFL?

H | 4 Andy Lee | 16 Tyler Newsome

Q: Is Andy Lee’s ability as a holder going to be a factor as to who wins the punting job?

KR | 17 Andy Isabella | 85 Rondale Moore

Q: Will the Cardinals finally (since the days of Ken Whisenhunt as head coach) get consistent production out of their kickoff and punt returners?

PR | 13 Christian Kirk | 85 Rondale Moore

Q: What did the Cardinals see in Christian Kirk last season (6.0 ave.,T-50th in NFL) as the punt returner for him to still be #1 on the depth chart?

Would love to read your answers —- go for it!

Plus, please give us your choice for the dark horse to make the 53 man roster.