Arizona Cardinals’ Pre-Draft 53 Man Roster

Identifying position needs

With the 2025 NFL Draft scheduled to start 4 weeks from today, I thought it would be interesting to consider what the Arizona Cardinals’ 53-man roster might look like at this point in the off-season, with the purpose of determining the team’s draft priorities.

Here is my best guess of what the coaches would decide if they had to pick the roster today:

• QB (2): Kyler Murray, Jacoby Brissett
• RB (4): James Conner, Trey Benson, Emari Demercado, DeeJay Dallas
• WR (5): Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch, Zay Jones, Xavier Weaver
• TE (4): Trey McBride, Tip Reiman, Elijah Higgins, Travis Vokolek
• OL (9): Paris Johnson Jr., Evan Brown, Hjalte Froholdt, Isaiah Adams, Jonah Williams, Kelvin Beachum, Jon Gaines II, Christian Jones, Royce Newman
• DI (6): Dalvin Tomlinson, Darius Robinson, Dante Stills, L.J. Collier, Justin Jones, Bilal Nichols
• ILB (4): Mack Wilson Sr., Akeem Davis-Gaither, Owen Pappoe, Mykal Walker
• ED (5): Josh Sweat, Zaven Collins, Baron Browning, B.J. Ojulari, Xavier Thomas
• CB (6): Garrett Williams, Starling Thomas V, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Max Melton, Elijah Jones, Kei’Trel Clark
• S (5): Budda Baker, Jalen Thompson, Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Joey Blount, Darren Hall
• ST (3): Aaron Brewer, Chad Ryland, Blake Gillikin

Last 5 In on Offense:

• RB DeeJay Dallas
• WR Zay Jones
• WR Xavier Weaver
• TE Travis Vokolek
• G Royce Newman

First 5 Out on Offense:

• QB Clayton Tune
• RB Michael Carter
• WR Simi Fehoko
• WR Tejhuan Palmer
• G/T Jake Curhan

Last 5 In on Defense:

• DE L.J. Collier
• DT Bilal Nichols
• ED Xavier Thomas
• CB Kei’Trel Clark
• S Darren Hall

First 5 Out on Defense:

• LB Vi Jones
• ED Benton Whitley
• CB Jalon Jones
• CB Jaden Davis
• S Jammie Robinson

Veteran Players who might be on the bubble (considering 2025 roles and salaries and potential draft picks who could take their places):

• RB DeeJay Dallas —- 2025 Cap Number: $3.1M —- post June 1 savings: $2.7M
• WR Zay Jones —- 2025 Cap Number: $2.3M —- post June 1 savings $980K
• T Jonah Williams —- 2025 Cap Number: $16.1M —- post June 1 savings: $6.1M
• DE L.J. Collier —- 2025 Cap Number: $3M —- post June 1 savings: $1.5M
• DT Justin Jones —- 2025 Cap Number: $11.3M —- pre June 1 savings: $3.2M
• DT Bilal Nichols —- 2025 Cap Number $7.8M —- pre June 1 savings: $1.9M
• CB Sean Murphy-Bunting —- Cap Number: $10M —- pre June 1 savings: $1.7M
• S Jalen Thompson —- Cap Number $13.7M —- post June 1 savings: $10.2M

2025 Cap Ramifications:

• Total Cap Numbers (if all are on the 53): $67.3M
• Total Cap Savings (if all are not on the 53): $28.2.M

Draft Needs By Position —- high, medium, low

• QB —- low
• RB —- medium (DeeJay Dallas’ spot)
• WR —- medium (Zay...