My Cardinals' 53-Man Roster with Explanations V. 1.0
by Walter Mitchell
This week's super sleeper:
There is a special art about picking an NFL 53-man roster --- the gist is in ascertaining which players would most likely pass through waivers and therefore should be retained on the 16-man practice squad. The practice squad rule is that 10 of the players need to be rookies or have no more that two accrued seasons of NFL experience, while 6 of the players can be veterans with multiple years of accrued seasons.
Therefore, the first thing to for the GM and coaches to do is to make a preliminary list of the players who are set to make the roster. Like this:
QB (2): Kyler Murray, Jacoby Brissett
RB (3): James Conner, Trey Benson, Emari Demercado
TE (3): Trey McBride, Elijah Higgins, Tip Reiman
WR (4): Michael Wilson, Marvin Harrison Jr., Greg Dortch, Xavier Weaver
OL (6): Paris Johnson Jr., Evan Brown, Hjalte Froholdt, Isaiah Adams, Jonah Williams, Kelvin Beachum
DI (5): Calais Campbell, Dalvin Tomlinson, Darius Robinson, Dante Stills, Walter Nolen III
ED (4): Zaven Collins, Josh Sweat, Baron Browning, Jordan Burch
ILB (4): Mack Wilson Sr., Owen Pappoe, Cody Simon, Akeem Davis-Gaither
CB (4): Garrett Williams, Max Melton, Will Johnson, Denzel Burke
S (4): Budda Baker, Jalen Thompson, Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Joey Blount
ST (3): Aaron Brewer, Chad Ryland, Blake Gillikin
Count: 42
Next comes a list of players who could start the year on IR:
G Will Herandez
DT Bilal Nichols
ED B.J. Ojulari
Plus, possibly, depending on current injuries, other potential IR candidates:
WR Simi Fehoko
C/G Jon Gaines II
T Christian Jones
DT Justin Jones
LB J.J. Russell
Now, what the GM and coaches need to do is decide which of their players are most likely to be claimed off of waivers. In my opinion:
TE Travis Vokolek
NT Elijah Simmons
ED Xavier Thomas
CB Elijah Jones
S Kitan Crawford
So, let's add them in:
QB (2): Kyler Murray, Jacoby Brissett
RB (3): James Conner, Trey Benson, Emari Demercado
TE (4): Trey McBride, Elijah Higgins, Tip Reiman, Travis Vokolek
WR (4): Michael Wilson, Marvin Harrison Jr., Greg Dortch, Xavier Weaver
OL (6): Paris Johnson Jr., Evan Brown, Hjalte Froholdt, Isaiah Adams, Jonah Williams, Kelvin Beachum
DI (6): Calais Campbell, Dalvin Tomlinson, Darius Robinson, Dante Stills, Walter Nolen III, Elijah Simmons
ED (5): Zaven Collins, Josh Sweat, Baron Browning, Jordan Burch, Xavier Thomas
ILB (4): Mack Wilson Sr., Owen Pappoe, Cody Simon, Akeem Davis-Gaither
CB (5): Garrett Williams, Max Melton, Will Johnson, Denzel Burke, Elijah Jones
S (5): Budda Baker, Jalen Thompson, Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Joey Blount, Kitan Crawford
ST (3): Aaron Brewer, Chad Ryland, Blake Gillikin
Count: 47
Position group needs:
QB --- low; plan all along is for Clayton Tune to pass through waivers and be signed to the PS.
RB --- low; seeing as the heavy odds are that DeeJay Dallas, Michael Carter and Zonavan Knight will go unclaimed and can be stashed on the PS ---they can be called up for games when needed. Greg Dortch and Xavier Weaver should be the return specialists.
TE --- all set
WR --- medium: need to add 1
OL --- high; need to add 2-3
DI --- low --- could be all set
ED --- all set
ILB --- medium; need to add 1
CB --- medium --- need to add 1
S --- all set
ST --- all set
Count: 6 slots still available --- WR (1); OL (3); DI (?) ILB (1), CB (1)
WR --- If Simi Fehoko is healthy, he most fits the bill because he's the best ST player and brings upside as a "big slot" WR. The coaches and Kyler like Zay Jones for his veteran savvy and presence --- but 2024 6th round pick Tejhuan Palmer has been developing excellent chemistry with Jacoby Brissett and is a potential diamond in the rough. Is Tejhuan a waiver wire claim risk? Likely not. But we need to keep an eye on TP's progress this week and next. But for now --- the spot goes to Zay Jones.
OL --- I was tempted to list 2025 6th round pick C/G Hayden Conner as a lock and I believe he should be, especially given the fact that Jon Gaines II has a thumb injury. If Will Hernandez feels he will be ready to play in a few weeks, he's a lock. The tough decision is whether to pick 2024 5th round pick T Christian Jones or 2025 CFA T Josh Fryar. Versus the Chiefs, Josh Fryar earned the highest PFF grade of all of the Cardinals' OL at 71.1. Christian Jones, playing LT looked much better than he did there last season, but graded a 43.6. If "El Toro" thinks he'll be good to go in 3-4 weeks, the three spots, for now, should go to Hayden Conner, Will Hernandez and Josh Fryar.
DI --- While L.J. Collier (50.0), in the second half, got the team's lone sack, the player who jumped off the screen was this week's super sleeper Kyon Barrs: 2 tackles, 1 stop, 1 QB pressure, 4th highest grade on the defense at 76.3. If Barrs has another strong performance he could get one of the nods next week.
ILB --- Owen Pappoe had a rough game versus the Chiefs. If such struggles continue, then maybe he'll be on the bubble. But he showed good promise last season, particularly as the team's best cover ILB. The ILB on the bubble who played the best versus the Chiefs was Mykal Walker, earning the 3rd best grade on the entire defense at 79.7. Plus, Mykal Walker is a premier STs player. Walker get the nod.
CB --- Darren Hall (93.5, highest grade on the defense) gets the nod this week over Kei'tTel Clark (45.3) who needs a big bounce-back game versus the Broncos.
53 Man Roster V. 1.0
QB (2): Kyler Murray, Jacoby Brissett
RB (3): James Conner, Trey Benson, Emari Demercado
TE (4): Trey McBride, Elijah Higgins, Tip Reiman, Travis Vokolek
WR (5): Michael Wilson, Marvin Harrison Jr., Greg Dortch, Xavier Weaver, Zay Jones
OL (9): Paris Johnson Jr., Evan Brown, Hjalte Froholdt, Isaiah Adams, Jonah Williams, Kelvin Beachum, Hayden Conner, Will Hernandez, Josh Fryar
DI (6): Calais Campbell, Dalvin Tomlinson, Darius Robinson, Dante Stills, Walter Nolen III, Elijah Simmons
ED (5): Zaven Collins, Josh Sweat, Baron Browning, Jordan Burch, Xavier Thomas
ILB (5): Mack Wilson Sr., Owen Pappoe, Cody Simon, Akeem Davis-Gaither, Mykal Walker
CB (6): Garrett Williams, Max Melton, Will Johnson, Denzel Burke, Elijah Jones, Darren Hall
S (5): Budda Baker, Jalen Thompson, Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Joey Blount, Kitan Crawford
ST (3): Aaron Brewer, Chad Ryland, Blake Gillikin
16 Man Practice Squad Projection:
QB (1): Clayton Tune
RB (3): Bam Knight, Michael Carter*, DeeJay Dallas*
TE (1): Josiah Deguara*
WR (2): Tejhuan Palmer, Marco Baccellia
OL (3): Christian Jones, McClendon Curtis, Jake Curhan*
DI (2): L.J. Collier*, Patrick Jenkins
LB (1): Vi Jones
CB (2): Kei'trel Clark, Steven Gilmore
S (1): Jammie Robinson
* denotes veteran with more than 2 accrued seasons. Teams can only have 6 on the PS.
Your assessments?
I agree with you on the 53. In most areas, it is a solid depth chart.
ReplyDeleteHow does a player like Pappoe not make this squad? Has he not developed under the excellent defensive coaches
X Weaver should run back every punt in preseason-let's see ho he does and needs to develop as a receiver
Zay Jones not going anywhere and seriously how many WRs gone make a game to game difference when KMs limited target range is MHR, TM, Wilson and Connor out of the backfield? Safety valve Higgins might catch more balls than Z Jones
Fryer and Connor not going anywhere just ask our OL coach who hand picked them.
Maybe first time since '75, I think our trenches may be the strongest part of a Cards team (after Safety this season)
Darren Hall might provide the only depth we have at CB. After all the bodies we brought in even considering injuries, our CB guru hasn't developed a CB room with any real depth. K Clark should've been allowed to find another team b4 preseason.
No issues with your 53; We finally will have some struggles when it comes time for cuts and placing guys on PS. I do think Nolan & Hernandez & Ojulari & Jones will likely start on PUP, opening spot for Collier to make 53.
ReplyDeletePappoe is going to need to bounce back after his performance -v- KC. Surprised you don't have Burke going to PS over Gilmore.
This leaves one position open on 53. Which if I had to guess would go to OL.
I have corrected the 53. I meant to have Denzel as a definite player on the 53. I added him in and put Kyon Barrs on the bubble with a chance to keep making his case.
DeleteWalt, Will Hernandez already has a nickname, "Mijo", a contraction of Mi Hijo, meaning "my son", a term of endearment in the Chicano culture. There's no need to give him another nickname, he literally has a business venture based on this identity. Other than that, I agree with your 53, thank you for not including Ojulari, Justin Jones, or Bilal Nichols, give our youth a chance!
ReplyDeleteGreat comment GdN ! We got youth and now we need to develop them
DeleteThank you Mijo! I will put "El Toro" out to pasture.
DeleteHaha, I see what you did there Mr. Mitchell.
DeleteCertainly Mijo is a term of endearment that aptly applied to you, my friend. What's awesome about Will Hernandez is he is "Miho" off the field and "El Toro" on the field. His coaches and teammates love him, for both reasons.
Delete* applies to you
DeleteGood analysis and I can't disagree with any of the picks for the 53 or the PS. But we are one preseason game I so time will tell how things shape out and we are unfortunately likely to see another injury ot two push some one from the ps onto the 53. I also think you need to make 2 spots for waiver claims as we seem to add a couple every year. Maybe make the 51 man roster instead!
ReplyDeleteWell said K83.
DeleteI am the biggest University of Miami fan. With that said my plea to the Cardinals is to please, please, please let Deejay Dallas go. He is not worth a spot in my eyes. And I felt this way last year so last week's game is icing on the cake.
ReplyDeleteI think, hevchv, when the coaches elected to start Michael Carter, up from the PS, ahead of DeeJay Dallas, that was an indication that they view DeeJay's value to the team as strictly related to special teams. That said, are there other return men and kick/punt cover guys on the team who are just as, or even more capable, as he?
DeleteWalt, I agree with your entire 53. I also think this roster is extremely underrated and is much better pundits suggest. It's also night and day better than when JG and MO came to town. The future is bright.
ReplyDelete