The Arizona Cardinals are still months away from having to make decisions about the final 53-man roster. However, looking ahead, in addition to filling the roster with guys who can play offense or defense, special teams contributions become a factor.
Sometimes, a player is both a special teams ace and a contributor on offense or defense. Linebacker Dennis Gardeck is a perfect example of that. He led the team in sacks in 2023 and also played 181 special teams snaps, logging three special teams tackles. Because he played so much on defense, he played the fewest special teams snaps of his career.
But other guys will not figure on offense or defense but could make roster decisions tough because they are or can be core special teams players.
The Cardinals have several guys to watch in the offseason, training camp and preseason because they will be special teams aces who could occupy spots on the roster.
Who are the guys to know who could bump able players off the roster?
CB Bobby Price
Price only played in six games last season, although had he not gotten hurt and landed on injured reserve, he would have played more. In six games, he logged 120 special teams snaps and had four special teams tackles. He also recovered a fumble on a punt.
He was a core special teams player when he was healthy.
S Joey Blount
Blount made a lot of players on special teams last season. In only 11 games with the team, he was second on the team with nine special teams tackles and forced two fumbles.
LB Jesse Luketa
Luketa played a little on defense last season, logging 132 snaps on defense. However, he played 281 on special teams. Add the fact that he is a perfect teammate and even can play fullback on offense, and you have a guy that is hard to cut, even when he isn’t going to play much on defense.
WR Zah Pascal
Pascal seems like a cut candidate, especially with the receivers they have added (Zay Jones, Chris Moore, Marvin Harrison Jr.). However, he played 202 special teams snaps and was third on the team with eight special teams tackles.
WR Dan Chisena
Chisena is an interesting case. He was a late-season addition and played in only four games, logging 51 special teams snaps. He had two special teams tackles.
What makes his situation curious is this. After the season, as a practice squad player, he contract was going to expire three days after the season. But he was released before that and was able to sign with the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad during the postseason. He even played for the Ravens in the playoffs. But then, after the Ravens were beaten, he chose to go back to the Cardinals.
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