The Arizona Cardinals have already signed all their draftees. This is huge for the organization and the fans because it used to take a few months after the draft for the Cardinals to sign all of their players, maybe even longer. On that note here is my projections for the Cardinals starting lineups
Projected 2016 Arizona Cardinals Starting Lineup
(If a players name is bolded: opportunity to be a starter for the Cardinals, rookie, or offseason acquisition)
Offense
QB: Carson Palmer
RB: David Johnson
WR1: Larry Fitzgerald
WR2: Michael Floyd
WR3: John Brown
TE: Darren Fells
LT: Jared Veldheer
LG: Mike Iupati
C: AQ Shipley
RG: Evan Mathis
RT: D.J. Humphries
Darren Fells produced very well for the Cardinals so he may be the starter to kick off the year. AQ Shipley will hold down the fort until Evan Boehm is ready. Although it’s possible he may be able to contribute before the start of the season.
Defense
DL: Calais Campbell
DT: Rodney Gunter
DL: Robert Nkemdiche
OLB: Chandler Jones
ILB: Deone Bucannon
ILB: Kevin Minter
OLB: Markus Golden
CB1: Patrick Peterson
CB2: Justin Bethel
FS: Tyrann Mathieu
SS: Tony Jefferson
Robert Nkemdiche is too talented not to start right away. Bruce Arians said this when the rookies started training; “He was killing people in walk-through,” Arians said. “I had to slow him down. It’s a walk-through, and he bench-pressed a lineman already.”
Special Teams
K: Chandler Catanzaro
P: Drew Butler
H: Drew Butler
LS: Kameron Canaday/ Daniel Dillon
KR: J.J. Nelson
PR: Patrick Peterson
Portland State’s Kameron Canaday and Campbell University’s Daniel Dillon (both long snappers) were two of the 16 signed undrafted free agents for the Cardinals. So one will get the job but may not solidify their starting position throughout the year. The Cardinals may also bring in a better for the job as well.
Projected lineup for the Arizona Cardinals (End of the season)
(If a players name is in bold: Change from my first projections)
Offense
QB: Carson Palmer
RB: David Johnson
WR1: Larry Fitzgerald
WR2: Michael Floyd
WR3: John Brown
TE: Jermaine Gresham
LT: Jared Veldheer
LG: Mike Iupati
C: Evan Boehm
RG: Evan Mathis
RT: D.J. Humphries
Jermaine Gresham will have to earn the starting spot. As a result of his injury last season he didn’t play all year. Evan Boehm will surely start before the first half of the season.
Defense
DL: Calais Campbell
DT: Rodney Gunter
DL: Robert Nkemdiche
OLB: Chandler Jones
ILB: Deone Bucannon
ILB: Kevin Minter
OLB: Markus Golden
CB1: Patrick Peterson
CB2: Brandon Williams
FS: Tyrann Mathieu
SS: Marqui Christian
Brandon Williams will have to battle for it, but I think he will eventually get the job this season because Justin Bethel is always targeted by opposing quarterbacks. So Bethel can just focus on special teams. Marqui Christian getting the starting role is a bold statement. Former Arizona Cardinals safety and now Cardinals scout spoke highly of Christian so he may end up sharing time with Tony Jefferson and D.J. Swearinger rather than starting, but you never know. I also expect Harlan Miller to get more playing time as well towards the end of the season.
Special Teams
K: Chandler Catanzaro
P: Drew Butler
H: Drew Butler
LS: Kameron Canaday/ Daniel Dillon
KR: Kerwynn Williams
PR: J.J. Nelson
The Cardinals will want Patrick Peterson to focus on being one of the elite corners in the game. So he will eventually let the punt returning job go. Also he doesn’t really produce much as a punt returner.
Those are the only positions flexible to change. The Cardinals starting roster is already pretty solid. But some changes will happen throughout the season.
