The Arizona Cardinals have a new front office and coaching staff. That means they were not the ones who necessarily liked the players the team drafted in 2022.
Some of their draft picks seem destined to bigger roles in 2023 — tight end Trey McBride and linebackers Cameron Thomas and Myjai Sanders. However, the other players have uncertain futures for the coming season.
They are players to watch in training camp and the preseason coming up later this month and next month.
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RB Keaontay Ingram
Ingram seems to have the most likely roster spot of the rest of last season’s draft picks, as the running back room is pretty thin after starter James Conner.
Other than Ingram, it is Corey Clement, Ty’Son Williams and undrafted rookie Emari Demercado.
But if the Cardinals add a more experienced running back, Ingram’s spot on the roster is much more tenuous.
OL Lecitus Smith
Smith, a sixth-round pick last year, looked like he could have a future with the team. However, the Cardinals signed two veteran in Dennis Daley and Elijah Wilkinson, both of whom can play both tackle and guard, and then they drafted Jon Gaines, who can play guard and center like Smith. Smith might be battling for the final spot on the offensive line on the roster.
CB Christian Matthew
Matthew got a bit of playing time last season late in the year. He fortunately has the size that the new coaching staff likes and he has great athleticism. However, the Cardinals drafted two cornerbacks and already have Marco Wilson and Antonio Hamilton. Matthew, a seventh-round pick, is far from a lock to make the team.
LB Jesse Luketa
Former general manager Steve Keim loved Luketa, a seventh-round pick last year. He turned heads in the preseason for his special teams play. Can the Cardinals afford to keep two mainly special teams linebackers in LUketa and Dennis Gardeck when they have Zaven Collins, Cam Thomas, Myjai Sanders and rookie second-round pick BJ Ojulari in the room as well?
OL Marquis Hayes
The coaching staff loved Hayes last offseason and preseason. The problem? That coaching staff is no longer here for the 2022 seventh-rounder. Since he was on injured reserve all last season, there is no regular-season game film on him. He is in the same situation as Lecitus Smith. They might be battling for the same roster spot.
