Cardinals Roster

[Mitch]

Blue: Starters
Red: Backups/Actives
Green: Bubble

55 Abraham, John OLB 6-4 263 36 15 South Carolina
94 Acho, Sam OLB 6-3 257 25 4 Texas
97 Alexander, Loren OLB 6-1 244 30 8 California
86 Ballard, Jake TE 6-6 275 26 4 Ohio State
35 Bauman, Zach RB 5-7 196 21 R Northern Arizona
59 Benard, Marcus OLB 6-2 256 28 5 Jackson State
28 Bethel, Justin CB 6-0 190 23 3 Presbyterian
64 Blake, Philip C/G 6-3 310 28 2 Baylor
13 Brown, Jaron WR 6-2 205 24 2 Clemson
12 Brown, John WR 5-10 179 24 R Pittsburg St. (KS)
52 Brown, Jonathan ILB 6-1 240 21 R Illinois
36 Bucannon, Deone S 6-1 208 21 R Washington State
81 Buckner, Dan WR 6-5 215 23 1 Arizona
93 Campbell, Calais DE 6-8 300 27 7 Miami (Fla.)
89 Carlson, John TE 6-5 248 30 7 Notre Dame
56 Carson, Glenn ILB 6-3 238 23 R Penn St
7 Catanzaro, Chan K 6-3 208 23 R Clemson
44 Clayton, Keenan ILB 6-1 230 26 4 Oklahoma
61 Cooper, Jonathan G 6-2 312 24 2 North Carolina
34 Cornett, Tim RB 6-0 210 22 R UNLV
31 Cromartie, Anton CB 6-2 210 30 9 Florida State
54 Demens, Kenny ILB 6-1 242 24 1 Michigan
53 Dickson, JoJo ILB 6-1 245 24 1 Idaho
90 Dockett, Darnell DT 6-4 290 32 11 Florida State
60 Draheim, Tom C 6-4 309 25 1 San Diego State
20 Dwyer, Jonathan RB 5-11 229 24 5 Georgia Tech
38 Ellington, Andre RB 5-9 199 25 2 Clemson
74 Fanaika, Paul G 6-5 327 28 5 Arizona State
4 Feely, Jay K 5-10 208 38 14 Michigan
85 Fells, Darren TE 6-7 281 28 1 California-Irvine
11 Fitzgerald, Larry WR 6-3 218 30 11 Pittsburgh
15 Floyd, Michael WR 6-3 225 24 3 Notre Dame
50 Foote, Larry ILB 6-1 239 33 13 Michigan
75W Gaston, Bruce DT 6-2 308 22 R Purdue
19 Ginn, Ted WR 5-11 185 29 8 Ohio State
10 Golden, Brittan WR 5-11 186 25 2 West Texas A&M
80 Hardy, Andre TE 6-6 245 27 1 Cal-State Fullerton
84 Housler, Rob TE 6-5 250 26 4 Florida Atlantic
2 Hrapmann, Dan K 5-9 164 25 1 Southern Mississippi
39 Hughes, Robert RB 5-11 235 24 2 Notre Dame
22 Jefferson, Tony S 5-11 212 22 2 Oklahoma
65 Johnson, Christia G 6-4 330 27 1 Kentucky
33 Johnson, Orhian S 6-3 211 24 1 Ohio State
26 Johnson, Rashad S 5-11 204 28 6 Alabama
62 Larsen, Ted C/G 6-2 305 26 5 NC State
82 Leach, Mike LS 6-2 235 37 15 Wm and Mary
42 Lewis, LeQuan CB 5-11 190 25 2 Arizona State
14 Lindley, Ryan QB 6-4 230 24 3 San Diego State
96 Martin, Kareem DE 6-6 272 22 R North Carolina
70 Massie, Bobby T 6-6 316 24 3 Mississippi
32 Mathieu, Tyrann S 5-9 186 22 2 LSU
23 McCann, Bryan CB 5-11 185 26 5 Southern Methodist
95 McCloud, Anthony DT 6-2 313 24 1 Florida State
51 Minter, Kevin ILB 6-1 245 23 2 LSU
87 Niklas, Troy TE 6-6 270 21 R Notre Dame
57 Okafor, Alex OLB 6-4 260 23 2 Texas
3 Palmer, Carson QB 6-5 235 34 12 USC
69 Palmer, Kelvin T 6-4 302 23 R Baylor
21 Peterson, Patrick CB 6-1 219 23 4 LSU
17 Pope, Kelsey WR 6-0 198 22 R Samford
76 Potter, Nate T 6-6 300 26 3 Boise State
83 Powell, Walt WR 6-0 187 22 R Murray State
25 Powers, Jerraud CB 5-10 187 26 6 Auburn
73 Renfrow, Justin DT 6-6 310 24 R Miami
98 Rucker, Frostee DE 6-3 280 30 9 USC
63 Sendlein, Lyle C 6-3 308 30 8 Texas
43 Sermons, Brand CB 5-11 190 22 R UCLA
91 Shaughnessy, M OLB 6-5 285 27 6 Wisconsin
18 Smith, Kevin WR 5-11 214 22 R Washington
79 Sowell, Bradley T 6-7 315 24 3 Mississippi
5 Stanton, Drew QB 6-3 243 30 8 Michigan State
71 Steen, Anthony G/C 6-3 309 24 R Alabama
72 Stinson, Ed DE 6-3 287 24 R Alabama
66 Ta'amu, Alameda DT 6-3 348 23 3 Washington
27 Taylor, Curtis S 6-2 212 28 3 LSU
30 Taylor, Stepfan RB 5-9 214 22 2 Stanford
6 Thomas, Logan QB 6-6 250 22 R Virginia Tech
47 Tracy, Adrian OLB 6-2 248 27 3 William & Mary
67 Tupou, Christian DT 6-2 300 25 2 USC
68 Veldheer, Jared T 6-8 321 26 5 Hillsdale
37 Walters, Anthony S 6-1 207 25 4 Delaware
16 Washington, Cor WR 6-4 214 22 R Newberry
58 Washington, Dar ILB 6-2 230 27 5 TCU
48 Washington, Tod CB 5-11 196 22 R Southeast Louisiana
78 Watford, Earl G 6-4 295 24 2 James Madison
41 Whitley, Eddie CB 6-0 188 24 1 Virginia Tech
92 Williams, Dan DT 6-2 327 26 5 Tennessee
75R Williams, Kadee T 6-7 320 22 R Albany
29 Williams, Teddy CB 6-1 207 25 3 Texas-San Antonio
9 Zastudil, Dave P 6-3 220 35 13 Ohio U.

First Teams:

QB Palmer
RB Ellington
TE Carlson
WR Fitzgerald
LT Veldheer
LG Cooper
OC Sendlein
RG Fanaika
RT Sowell
TE Niklas
WR Floyd
WR Ginn

DE Dockett
NT Williams
DE Campbell
LB Shaughnessy
LB Minter
LB Washington
LB Abraham
CB Peterson
SS Bucannon
FS Mathieu
CB Cromartie
CB Powers

LS Leach
PK Feely
PT Zastudil

Second Teams

QB Stanton (Thomas)
RB Taylor (Dwyer)
TE Ballard
WR Ju. Brown
LT Sowell
LG Watford
OC Larsen
RG Watford
RT Massie
TE
WR Jo. Brown

DE Stinton
NT Ta'amu
DE Rucker
LB
LB
LB Foote
LB Martin
CB Bethel
SS Jefferson
FS Johnson
CB Powers

Bubble:

OT Potter
OT Williams
OG Johnson
TE Fells
TE Hardy
WR Powell
WR Buckner
WR Golden
RB Hughes
RB Bauman
RB Cornett

DT Gaston
DT McCloud
DT Renfrow
DT Tupou
LB Acho
LB Alexander
LB Demens
LB Dickson
LB Okafor
LB Tracy
LB Brown
CB McCann
CB Williams
CB Lewis
CB Sermons
CB Whitley
SS Taylor
SS Johnson
PK Hrapmann

Pre-Mini Camp Prediction:

QB (3): Palmer, Stanton, Thomas
RB (4): Ellington, Taylor, Dwyer, Bauman*
TE (4): Carlson, Niklas, Ballard, Fells*
OL (8): Sendlein, Cooper, Fanaika, Veldheer, Sowell, Larsen, Watford, Massie
WR (6): Fitzgerald, Floyd, Ginn, Jo. Brown, Ju. Brown, Powell*
DE: (5): Dockett, Campell, Martin, Rucker, Stinson
NT (2): Williams, Ta'amu (Gaston*---if Ta'amu is on PUP)
LB (8): Shaughnessy, Minter, Washington, Abraham, Acho*, Alexander*, Foote, Benard
CB (6): Peterson, Cromartie, Powers, Bethel, McCann*, Sermons*
SS (2): Bucannon, Jefferson
FS (2): Mathieu, Johnson
ST (3): Leach, Felly, Zastudil

Why:

RB: Bauman makes it over Hughes because we already have two bangers in Taylor and Dwyer, and Bauman fits the Juke mold. It's possible that Hughes might beat out Dwyer, especially when STs are factored in.

TE: Housler is very likely to be traded---why---because he heads into the 4th year and they could get something in return for him. Plus, they are very high on Fells and Hardy.

OL: Only 8? Well, the trio of Larsen, Watford and Massie and the ability to switch Sowell over to LT in a pinch, gives double depth at C, G and T. They will keep 2-3 OL on the practice squad.

WR: Walter Powell makes it on STs. The Cardinals see something big in Powell...otherwise, of all the talent remaining on the board in the 6th round they wouldn't have taken Powell. They knew that the Jets had worked out Powell and were very high on him as a WR in the Santonio Holmes mode.

NT: This kid Gaston from Purdue is a load---and he played well in the East-West Shrine game. He gets the nod until Ta'amu is back to 100%.

LB: Acho is the likely backup to Shaughnessy at 34LOLB. Benard is the nickel rusher at LDE. Alexander and Foote will be counted on as veterans, although they have to stay healthy. Right now the odd man out is Okafor, who needs to make a splash. Adrian Tracy is a speed guy who can cover too---and he is guy who could move up the charts. Demens, Dickson and Connor have to unseat the veterans...and a sleeper here at LB is UCFA Jonathan Brown who played well at the Senior Bowl. For now I am sticking with the veterans, especially with Washington facing suspension, but I could see Todd Bowles becoming enamored with a couple of the young guys.

CB: McCann should be valuable behind Powers in the nickel and this kid Sermons is not only a talented CB he's an excellent gunner on STs. He has to beat out Teddy Williams and right now I am guessing that he will, although if Williams shows he can cover TEs, Williams will make the roster for sure.

SS: I think it is quite possible that as they did with Tyrann Mathieu, the coaches may wait a couple games before they start Deone Bucannon, in favor of starting Tony Jefferson who has some experience. Bucannon, like Mathieu last year, should be a factor in the nickel immediately. The one depth guy here who could make a push for the roster is Curtis Taylor. They love how big and physical he is. But, he has to show quicker awareness and cover instincts.

 

[Garthshort]

Mitch, as usual, a great job. There are a number of things I disagree with, but don't have the time now to list them. I will say that my tired eyes have a hard time distinguishing some of the colors, and thanks for listing them by category. My wife is in the hospital, so I don't have a lot of spare time, and thanks for a nice divergent (if that's a word?).

 

[Mitch]

Mitch, as usual, a great job. There are a number of things I disagree with, but don't have the time now to list them. I will say that my tired eyes have a hard time distinguishing some of the colors, and thanks for listing them by category. My wife is in the hospital, so I don't have a lot of spare time, and thanks for a nice divergent (if that's a word?).

Best wishes for a speedy recovery to your wife, Garth. Hope she's back home asap.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery to your wife, Garth. Hope she's back home asap.

+1

I send my best her way

 

[wa52lz]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery to your wife, Garth. Hope she's back home asap.

+2

 

[Billy Bob]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery to your wife, Garth. Hope she's back home asap.

+3

 

[juza76]

martin will be a starter .
playing olb and de in nickel package.
i m confident is the best pick in our draft

 

[Mitch]

martin will be a starter .
playing olb and de in nickel package.
i m confident is the best pick in our draft

Where does Martin start? Over Shaughnessy? Over Abraham?

Having just re-watched the Senior Bowl, Martin may not have quick enough feet or the natural explosion to play on the outside. He looks like a five technique 34DE...which is fine because maybe next year or next one after that he can start opposite Calais Campbell. He reminds me a lot of Campbell as a rookie.

That said, I wonder what Tom Pratt can do with Martin on the edge, especially from a two-point stance, which he hasn't done a lot of previously, as he was a 34DE at North Carolina and hand in the dirt nickel DE.

 

[Jetstream Green]

I do not see Sam Acho being on any bubble that is about to pop soon

 

[kerouac9]

Fun fact: Jake Ballard played 61% of the offensive snaps in the Cards Week 16 tilt. Rob Housler played 4.

Jim Dray was our starting TE in 2013. I think that we're going to miss him, particularly if Jon Carlson can't round back into some kind of form. I think that Niklas will take longer to round into reliable shape in the first half of the season; he's going to miss all of the offseason program (hernia); that's 1000 reps on the rookie field.

I don't know how much trade value Rob Housler really has with one year left on his rookie deal and missing a new team's entire offseason program. I guess you could get a 6th round pick for him (maybe), but I think his value as even a 3rd TE or 4th receiver is probably greater to the team.

A player who might have trade value is Bobbie Massie. I don't know if he's got value to this team if he's not a starter--he can't play LT. He has another two seasons left on his rookie deal. You might be able to get a 4th or 5th round pick for him.

 

[juza76]

Where does Martin start? Over Shaughnessy? Over Abraham?

Having just re-watched the Senior Bowl, Martin may not have quick enough feet or the natural explosion to play on the outside. He looks like a five technique 34DE...which is fine because maybe next year or next one after that he can start opposite Calais Campbell. He reminds me a lot of Campbell as a rookie.

That said, I wonder what Tom Pratt can do with Martin on the edge, especially from a two-point stance, which he hasn't done a lot of previously, as he was a 34DE at North Carolina and hand in the dirt nickel DE.

At senior bowl i dont put too much importance cause he didnt want to risk any injuries,i saw many tapes of him and he is quick enough toplay outside,he is the only one who could match clowney numbers.
I repeat he is quick and he is powerfull with very long arms.
I know is early to anticipate but i bet on him to have huge impact also this year.
Lets see mitch if u are right or not,just 3 months to see the response on the field


I dont know why people compare 2 player just for size.
Is like when they compare black qb.
Martin has another speed and quickness

 

[Mitch]

At senior bowl i dont put too much importance cause he didnt want to risk any injuries,i saw many tapes of him and he is quick enough toplay outside,he is the only one who could match clowney numbers.
I repeat he is quick and he is powerfull with very long arms.
I know is early to anticipate but i bet on him to have huge impact also this year.
Lets see mitch if u are right or not,just 3 months to see the response on the field


I dont know why people compare 2 player just for size.
Is like when they compare black qb.
Martin has another speed and quickness

I am with you, Juza...I hope you are right.

 

[Garthshort]

Mitch and everyone, thank you so much for your best wishes for my wife. Here is where I disagree with Mitch, and there isn't very many:
1. Like Jetstream, I don't see Sam Acho being on the bubble, injury aside. I see he and JA as starting olb's in passing situations.
2. Alexander is not on the bubble, as he's LB versatile and a vg st player.
3. Pre-Mini Camp. Can't see Thomas being 'given' the third spot over Lindley. He has to earn it and it's possible that he could go into training camp as the 3rd QB, but not mini-camp, as I think it would send the wrong message.
4. Hughes over Bauman and Connett over Bauman, and I'll be the first to admit that I know little about any of them. Basing my opinion on Hughes being brought over by BA, and Connett's college career.
5. Housler over Fells, at least going into the mini.
6. I think that Watford/Massie combo will start mc, as BASK want to see if there is a need to sign Winston. Sowell is a lock at backup OT.
7. And lastly, I think that Rucker will backup Williams at NT. Not ideal size but the consummate pro. I'm guessing that Te'amu will be out for most of the year and I know nothing about the kid from Purdue. But I'm always amazed by Mitch's knowledge of him so I won't be surprised if he's the guy.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

Mitch and everyone, thank you so much for your best wishes for my wife. Here is where I disagree with Mitch, and there isn't very many:
1. Like Jetstream, I don't see Sam Acho being on the bubble, injury aside. I see he and JA as starting olb's in passing situations.
2. Alexander is not on the bubble, as he's LB versatile and a vg st player.
3. Pre-Mini Camp. Can't see Thomas being 'given' the third spot over Lindley. He has to earn it and it's possible that he could go into training camp as the 3rd QB, but not mini-camp, as I think it would send the wrong message.
4. Hughes over Bauman and Connett over Bauman, and I'll be the first to admit that I know little about any of them. Basing my opinion on Hughes being brought over by BA, and Connett's college career.
5. Housler over Fells, at least going into the mini.
6. I think that Watford/Massie combo will start mc, as BASK want to see if there is a need to sign Winston. Sowell is a lock at backup OT.
7. And lastly, I think that Rucker will backup Williams at NT. Not ideal size but the consummate pro. I'm guessing that Te'amu will be out for most of the year and I know nothing about the kid from Purdue. But I'm always amazed by Mitch's knowledge of him so I won't be surprised if he's the guy.

One name I would add here is Damien Thigpen. He is a tryout player so he would have to make the mini camp roster, but if he does than I could see him possibly taking the 4th RB spot because of his versatility. Might be a good candidate for the PS otherwise. Unless of course it has already been determined that he isn't going to make the 90 man roster.

 

[Goldfield]

At senior bowl i dont put too much importance cause he didnt want to risk any injuries,i saw many tapes of him and he is quick enough toplay outside,he is the only one who could match clowney numbers.
I repeat he is quick and he is powerfull with very long arms.
I know is early to anticipate but i bet on him to have huge impact also this year.
Lets see mitch if u are right or not,just 3 months to see the response on the field


I dont know why people compare 2 player just for size.
Is like when they compare black qb.
Martin has another speed and quickness

I agree with this.

 

[Snakester]

Nice write up Walter! I think Massie will win the RT job. Also I think Okafor will see the field this year in a rotation. I can see the light coming on for him with a year to learn the system.

 

[Garthshort]

Mitch, you were right and I was wrong about Bauman vs. Cornett. As for OLB, I don't think that John Abraham should start, but as he's another year older, I think he should be used as a designated pass rusher. Who rushes from the other side is a TC battle that I'll be watching.

 

[Mulli]

Cornett was released