The Arizona Cardinals have 20 rookies on their roster. They drafted nine players and have 11 undrafted rookies they added since the draft.
Many will be lucky to make the team. Some should have contributing roles.
Some have a real shot at being starters.
Which rookies are those?
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OL Paris Johnson
Johnson was the Cardinals’ first-round pick, selected No. 6 overall.
He is expected to start. It might be left guard and it night be right tackle, but he should be in the lineup somewhere.
LB B.J. Oljulari
Ojulari has not yet signed his rookie contract but was drafted in the second round.
The Cardinals have young and inexperienced outside linebackers right now (Cam Thomas and Myjai Sanders are in their second season and Zaven Collins appears to be transitioning there)
The longer he is unsigned makes it less likely he is a starter, but he could.
OL Jon Gaines
Gaines could end up being the Cardinals’ starting center. It is where he is getting the most work so far in the offseason and the rest of the linemen on the roster have a combined four NFL games at center.
Hjalte Froholdt is slated to start right now but that could easily change.
LS Matt Hembrough
Hembrough is one of the Cardinals’ undrafted rookies. Barring the addition of a veteran or the return of Aaron Brewer, it is a battle between Hembrough and Joe Fortunado, who has exactly one NFL game in his career.
CB Kei'Trel Clark
Clark, drafted in the sixth round, plays a position without a lot of proven experience. The starters are currently slated to be Marco Wilson, Antonio Hamilton and Rashad Fenton.
Third-round pick Garrett Williams could be mentioned, but since he is coming off a torn ACL and will not be cleared for football activities until July, expecting him to get into the starting lineup is probably expecting a little too much.
QB Clayton Tune
Tune is the longest shot of all the players.
Kyler Murray isn’t likely going to be ready to start the season.
Colt McCoy is slated to start. While it was said he is going to be limited this offseason, he has been throwing in OTAs.
But if McCoy isn’t completely recovered, Tune could beat out David Blough or Jeff Driskel to be the Week 1 starter.
Don’t expect it, but he has at least an outside shot.
