The Arizona Cardinals wrapped up their first week of training camp Sunday afternoon and it is time to check in on their rookies to see where they stand.
Kyler Murray
There is a lot to like so far. He has not been perfect. He threw an end-zone interception on Saturday. However, he has been accurate and has looked good. He has been exactly what everyone hopes he can be.
Byron Murphy
Murphy’s stock is rising. He will play an important role for at least the first six weeks of the season, as he is expected to get significant playing time during Patrick Peterson’s six-game suspension.
Murphy has looked good. He has gotten work on the defensive second team at both outside corner and in the slot. He worked on Sunday with the first team practicing in the slot.
He has broken up some passes and has gotten beat a couple of times. His stock is steadily going up.
Andy Isabella
Isabella has worked mostly with the second team but has looked good. He has shown good hands, extremely quick feet and movement, an ability to make catches in traffic and has been a good punt catcher.
Zach Allen
Allen got some looks with the first team on Saturday and has looked good and consistent. He has mostly been on the second-team defense and knocked down a pass on Sunday. Kliff Kingsbury praised his progress so far.
Hakeem Butler
Butler looks clearly behind the other two the Cardinals drafted, but he has had highlight reel plays. He made two amazing touchdown catches in the end zone on Sunday. He also dropped a couple of passes as well. He has been a high-variance player thus far.
KeeSean Johnson
Johnson has been the talk of camp so far. He has not had big highlights, but he has gotten the most reps on the first team of the rookie receivers. Kingsbury gave him high praise for how well he has learned the offense and said he was the second-best pure route runner in the entire draft. He is a guy to watch.
The rest of the rookies; notable UDFAs
Kingsbury spoke highly of seventh-round pick Michael Dogbe. He looked good in pass-rushing drills. Kingsbury said he is the hardest worker on the team.
As for Deionte Thompson, Lamont Gaillard, Joshua Miles and Jalen Thompson (their pick in the supplemental draft), none have really stood out good or bad.
Deionte Thompson has been on the second-team defense and Gaillard has been at left guard on the second-string offensive line.
Undrafted rookie Nate Brooks has been playing cornerback with the second-team defense. He appears to be the undrafted rookie who is having the biggest impact so far.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
