The Arizona Cardinals open training camp on July 28 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals finished the 2019 season 5-10-1, good for last place in the NFC West. They have not reached the playoffs since the 2015 season when they reached the NFC Championship Game. The Cardinals return 16 starters from last season's team as well as head coach Kliff Kingsbury and coordinators Tom Clements (passing), Vance Joseph (defense) and Jeff Rodgers (special teams). Here's a 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (2): Kyler Murray, Brett Hundley
Hundley will only see the field in blowouts or if Murray gets hurt, as he did at the end of last season. Otherwise Murray, who passed for 3,722 yards with 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions last season on his way to winning rookie of the year, will take every snap possible. A leap in production after a year in the system and with new targets is expected.
RUNNING BACK (3): Kenyan Drake, Chase Edmonds, Eno Benjamin
Drake was officially given the reins of the running game this offseason with an $8.4 million tender. It's his season to show he's worth a long-term deal after rushing for 643 yards and eight touchdowns during his eight games in Arizona last sesaon after being traded from Miami. For the Cardinals it's a chance to get the sour taste of signing David Johnson to a mega deal out of their mouth. Edmonds is known to take advantage of his opportunities when given to him but Benjamin, a rookie familiar to fans in Arizona because of his time at Arizona State, could push him to be Drake's backup.
WIDE RECEIVERS (7): Larry Fitzgerald, DeAndre Hopkins, Christian Kirk, Hakeem Butler, Andy Isabella, Keesean Johnson, Trent Sherfield
Trading for Hopkins was one of the biggest steals in recent memory. Pairing him with Fitzgerald gives the Cardinals two future Hall of Famers -- how many teams can boast that claim? Kirk rounds out one of the best receiving trios in the NFL. But all eyes will be on Hopkins. And keep them peeled.
TIGHT END (3): Maxx Williams, Dan Arnold, Darrell Daniels
Arnold caught coach Kliff Kingsbury's attention last season and with his size -- he's 6-foot-6 -- and Kingsbury will look for ways to get creative with him.
OFFENSIVE LINE (10): D.J. Humphries, Justin Pugh, Mason Cole, J.R. Sweezy, Marcus Gilbert, Josh Jones, Justin Murray, Brett Toth, Josh Miles, Max Garcia
The biggest difference on the line this year is that Cole will return to the starting center spot after starting every game in 2018. A.Q. Shipley took over at center in 2019 but was not re-signed this offseason.
DEFENSIVE LINE (7): Corey Peters, Jordan Phillips, Zach Allen, Rashard Lawrence, Leki Fotu, Jonathan Bullard, Michael Dogbe
This is as good of a defensive line the Cardinals have had in years. Peters and Phillips create a forceful tandem in the middle and Allen, who's returning from a neck injury, can be productive on the edges.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (4): Chandler Jones, Devon Kennard, Haason Reddick, Vontarrius Dora
Jones finally has the complementary outside rushers he needs to not be consistently double-teamed. Between Kennard, Reddick and Dora, the rotation opposite Jones can provide the type of rush to get Jones open consistently.
INSIDE LINEBACKER (6): Jordan Hicks, De'Vondre Campbell, Dennis Gardeck, Isaiah Simmons, Zeke Turner, Evan Weaver
This might be the best unit on the Cardinals' roster. Hicks has proven himself as the defensive leader and a tackling machine. Adding Campbell, who can give the Cardinals much-needed coverage against tight ends, and Simmons, who can play all over the field if necessary but will focus on linebacker, gives Arizona the depth, talent, speed and skill to go sideline to sideline and cover any type of skill player on every snap.
CORNERBACK (4): Patrick Peterson, Robert Alford, Byron Murphy, Kevin Peterson
Patrick Peterson will return with something to prove after being suspended for six games last season after violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy. Alford will also have a chip on his shoulder after missing all 16 games with an ACL injury. Murphy comes back seasoned after being thrust into an every-down role last season.
SAFETY (4): Budda Baker, Deionte Thompson, Jalen Thompson, Charles Washington
Baker is a perennial Pro Bowler and will continue to mentor the Thompsons -- not related -- who had their moments last season. Coupled with the cornerbacks, the Cardinals' safeties comprise a talented and deep secondary that can make life for the front seven easier because of their ability to shut down receivers.
SPECIALIST (3): Zane Gonzalez, Andy Lee, Aaron Brewer
If it's not broken, don't fix it. This unit has been together going on three seasons. Continuity is key on special teams and this trio has it.