Next up in our positional previews for the Arizona Cardinals as they begin training camp are the outside linebackers. This group is a mostly veteran group with some young talent at the back end of the position.
Let us review the players, the expectations, the questions and the outlook for the position.
The players
There are six outside linebackers on the roster:
- Chandler Jones: He enters his eighth NFL season and fourth with the Cardinals.
- Terrell Suggs: This will be Year 17 for the future Hall of Famer and his first with the Cardinals.
- Brooks Reed: This is Reed’s ninth season in the league and first with the team.
- Vontarrius Dora: He is technically a first-year player, although he has been in the league since 2016. This will be the third season with the Cardinals.
- Cameron Malveaux: He has only one credited year in the league but this is his third year and second with the Cardinals.
- Pita Taumoepenu: Also with only one credited season in the league, he spent the last two years with the 49ers and now is in his first year with the Cardinals
The expectations
This is supposed to be a position of strength. The Cardinals should get a lot of production. Jones is one of the best pass rushers in the league. Suggs has been one of the best his entire career. Reed offers energy and run-stopping ability. Jones should have around 15 sacks and Suggs could threaten to reach double digits.
The questions
There are two main questions. One is whether or not Suggs still has anything left in the tank. The other is whether Reed will be healthy enough and whether he can produce. Jones is a given. He will be good and should be better with a threat on the other side of the line.
The roster outlook
Jones, Suggs and Reed are locks for the roster, assuming Reed is healthy. That leaves probably one roster spot for Dora, Malveaux and Taumoepenu to fight for.
Taumoepenu has been a special teams player. Dora looked very good in the preseason last year and Malveaux has some talent and got playing time for the Cardinals late last season.
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