The Arizona Cardinals have trimmed their roster to the requisite 53 players after the NFL’s cutdown deadline Tuesday afternoon. The Cardinals announced their cuts and other roster moves.
Many cuts were completely expected. Others were more surprising.
These are the biggest surprises about how the 53-man roster was left.
QB Desmond Ridder
Ridder was not a surprise cut to Cardinals fans, based on his play in training camp and the preseason. However, for those observing from the outside, it is a surprise. The Cardinals traded for him in the offseason to bring experience to the quarterback room behind Kyler Murray. After all, he had a very respectable 8-9 record as a starter over two seasons and was competing with Clayton Tune, whose only NFL start was one of the worst in NFL history (58 total passing yards, no points, two interceptions, a fumble and seven sacks). Tune, though, clearly outplayed him. Cardinals fans aren’t surprised, but it is still surprising considering the circumstances.
RB Michael Carter
In terms of the numbers, cutting Carter made sense. He was the fifth back of the room and he was due more than $3 million in salary. It doesn’t make sense to pay your fifth back that much.
But he was fantastic in the preseason.
OL Elijah Wilkinson
Wilkinson’s play doesn’t make his cut surprising, but his contract does. His 2024 salary is fully guaranteed, and his guard/tackle positional flexibility made him an intriguing guy as depth.
As a vested veteran, he will not be subject to waivers. He likely will land with the practice squad, as he will be paid his full salary anyway. His release might be a sort of roster manipulation as well because, assuming he doesn’t want to go elsewhere, he is never subject to waivers.
LB Krys Barnes
Barnes appeared to be set to be part of the defensive rotation, as starter Mack Wilson is expected to play some outside linebacker in addition to inside. His release also only leaves three inside backers on the roster between Kyzir White, Wilson and second-year pro Owen Pappoe.
With only three on the roster, something else has to be coming.
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