The Arizona Cardinals begin the 2020 NFL season on Sept. 13 at the San Francisco 49ers. 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 14 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
Nothing has changed at quarterback. Murray is still the starter and will chase the league's MVP award this season. Hundley won't get on the field unless Murray goes down but Murray spent the offseason building his body to stay on the field.
RUNNING BACK (4): Kenyan Drake, Chase Edmonds, Eno Benjamin, D.J. Foster
Foster will give the Cardinals depth behind Drake and Edmonds, while Benjamin tries to figure out life in the NFL. Drake will be a major cog in the Cardinals' offense. Edmonds will see snaps to spell Drake but will have the same kind of role he had last year behind David Johnson and then Drake.
WIDE RECEIVERS (6): Larry Fitzgerald, DeAndre Hopkins, Christian Kirk, Andy Isabella, KeeSean Johnson, Trent Sherfield
The Year 2 jump will be essential for receivers like Isabella and Johnson. I don't see Hakeem Butler making the cut as the Cardinals' rotation won't be as deep as many think with the trio of Hopkins, Fitzgerald and Kirk getting most of the snaps.
TIGHT END (4): Maxx Williams, Dan Arnold, Darrell Daniels, Dylan Cantrell
Maxx Williams has missed quite a bit of time with an unknown injury, which has allowed the Cardinals to evaluate the likes of Arnold, Daniels and Cantrell, who Kingsbury coached at Texas Tech. Any of the four can be blockers on the line or line up and catch passes. Watch for both to happen often.
OFFENSIVE LINE (10): D.J. Humphries, Justin Pugh, Mason Cole, J.R. Sweezy, Josh Jones, Justin Murray, Brett Toth, Josh Miles, Max Garcia, Kelvin Beachum
Losing Marcus Gilbert when he opted out of the 2020 season gave the Cardinals an opportunity to get a long look at Jones, who they drafted in the third round this year. Beachum is a veteran and gives them flexibility to use on either side of the line.
DEFENSIVE LINE (6): Corey Peters, Jordan Phillips, Zach Allen, Rashard Lawrence, Leki Fotu, Jonathan Bullard
Coaches and players have raved about Phillips in camp, and pairing him with Peters up front will give Arizona push it hasn't seen in years. With Allen rushing outside, the Cardinals will have one of the best interior rushes in the league.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (4): Chandler Jones, Devon Kennard, Kylie Fitts, Dennis Gardeck
Jones and Kennard will give the Cardinals as tough of a one-two punch off the edge as there is in the league. Gardeck will make the roster on sheer will and his special teams contributions, but this unit will be dominated by Jones and Kennard. Haason Reddick, the team's 2017 first-round pick, doesn't make the roster because of a back-log at outside linebacker and his snaps will be limited anyway.
INSIDE LINEBACKER (5): Jordan Hicks, De'Vondre Campbell, Isaiah Simmons, Zeke Turner, Evan Weaver
Talk about depth. Hicks, Campbell and Simmons are interchangeable. Simmons will likely be used at more positions than inside linebacker, but will be one of the Cards' primary defenders of tight ends. Campbell will also contribute in shadowing tight ends. Weaver will be make the roster because all he does is produce. Turner will get more reps at linebacker than in years past and will be a key special teamer.
CORNERBACK (4): Patrick Peterson, Dre Kirkpatrick, Byron Murphy, Chris Jones
Losing Robert Alford for a second straight year was a major blow. The Cardinals went on a cornerback signing spree in the wake of his injury, which produced the addition of Kirkpatrick, who will take over Alford's spot. That'll keep Murphy in the slot.
SAFETY (5): Budda Baker, Deionte Thompson, Jalen Thompson, Charles Washington, Chris Banjo
A lot of eyes will be on Baker this year because of his new extention that made him the highest paid safety in league history. Washington and Banjo will give solid depth and have roles on special teams.
SPECIALIST (3): Zane Gonzalez, Andy Lee, Aaron Brewer
Gonzalez has been steady in camp, Lee is a veteran and Brewer is the type who keeps his head down and does his job. This unit isn't likely to change unless there are serious issues during the season.