The Arizona Cardinals wrapped up one week of voluntary OTAs with three days of practice. It is the first part of the offseason program when the offense can go against the defense.
It is when position battles begin to heat up and players can get an edge before the break leading up to training camp.
What position battles are there to pay attention to?
Defensive line rotation and depth
Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols, both signed to three-year free agent contracts, are expected to start. So is L.J. Collier, but the drafting of Darius Robinson could lead to a competition there.
They still have Dante Stills and added Khyiris Tonga. What about Roy Lopez, who has started a lot of games in his career?
OLB starting job
The presumed starters are Zaven Collins and second-year pro BJ Ojulari. However, that just assumes Dennis Gardeck, the team’s sack leader last season, will just not start.
OLB depth
The three players we can lock in for the roster are Collins, Ojulari and Gardeck.
The battle after them should be good — fifth-round pick Xavier Thomas, Cam Thomas, Jesse Luketa, Victor Dimukeje.
CB 3 role
Sean Murphy-Bunting and Garrett Williams seem like locks for two of the top three main CB jobs. But they drafted Max Melton in the second round and Elijah Jones in the third.
Will Williams play more than the slot, which is all he did last season as a rookie? Will Melton be the third guy? Will he play outside or inside?
Can Jones push for a starting role?
CB depth
How will the rest of the room shape up? Will Kei’Trel Clark still make the roster? What about Starling Thomas? Can Jaden Davis even remotely earn a spot on the roster?
What about Bobby Price, who became a core special teams play?
Safety 3
Andre Chachere was the team’s No. 3 safety who played in big nickel and in dime packages.
Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson are the clear starters but the Cardinals added promising safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson in Round 4 of the draft. Can he unseat Chachere?
And if he does, there is the Chachere vs. Joey Blount battle for the fourth safety and core special teams player role.
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