While there are many roster and position battles in progress in training camp for the Arizona Cardinals, and much of the attention is on the many draft picks they have this year, every year there are undrafted rookies who make their mark.
Although the undrafted rookie class is smaller than in previous years, there are some players to watch who, because of the position they play, have a real chance at making the roster.
Who are those guys?
DL Miles Brown
Brown has been the No. 2 nose tackle for the Cardinals in practice so far. He is a true nose tackle and really the only one on the roster. There are four locks for the roster in Darius Philon, Corey Peters, Rodney Gunter and Zach Allen. If the Cardinals keep six defensive linemen, Brown could find his way on the roster, and he has been steady so far.
CB Nate Brooks
Brooks comes in as a guy who has a shot at one of the final spots at cornerback. We know four guys are locks to make the team in Patrick Peterson, Robert Alford, Tramaine Brock and Byron Murphy. There are one or two spots still available. Brooks has been playing on the second-team defense at outside corner consistently. he will battle Deatrick Nichols and Chris Jones for the final spot or two, and Peterson’s suspension could help him sneak onto the roster.
RB Dontae Strickland
The running back room seems wide open after David Johnson and Chase Edmonds, although D.J. Foster and T.J. Logan have both been consistently running with the second team. All the undrafted rookies behind them get later reps. However, Strickland is the guy I have seen get more reps than the others like Wes Hills and Xavier Turner, so as of now it appears he has the best shot.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
