The Arizona Cardinals starting roster for the 2020 season is all but set, minus the anticipated “Keim-time” free agent signing or two late in the offseason. The team and its fanbase are very excited for the upcoming year given the wave of talent acquired in this offseason.
So, where would all the Cardinals starters rank in tiers based on individual talents and success? We’ll dive into that today.
I would like to thank my good friend Vic (@Cardinalselite on Instagram and Twitter) for working on this project with me.
Tier 1: Elite
These players are in the prime of their careers and are classified amongst the best in their respective positions across the entire NFL landscape. They are producing at extremely high levels and demonstrate off-the-field leadership in their community.
WR DeAndre Hopkins
OLB Chandler Jones
With only two players making this tier, one has never played a down for the Cardinals. Nevertheless, DeAndre Hopkins is one of the three best receivers in football and has put up extraordinary numbers during his seven years in the league. He’s proven his dominance and has been playing at this level for some time now. He should ignite the Cardinals offense into something special this fall.
Chandler Jones is finally getting the appreciation he deserves from the rest of the NFL following an incredible 19 sack year that put him second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. As of today, Jones is the best edge rusher in the league and seems to be getting better each year. In the middle of his prime, Jones is the best player on defense for the Cardinals and another strong year from him is paramount for the team to make the jump in 2020.
Tier 2: Franchise
One of these players is a young player poised to become a franchise cornerstone for the Cardinals. The others are those who have already been franchise icons for the team and are entering the later years of their careers. While they might not be putting up the numbers they did in their prime, they are still key contributors on-the-field and in the locker room.
WR Larry Fitzgerald
QB Kyler Murray
CB Patrick Peterson
Larry Fitzgerald is the greatest player the Cardinals have ever had. He could be poised for another 1,000-yard season with the presence of DeAndre Hopkins drawing double teams, but our beloved Fitz doesn’t put up 1,400 yards a year anymore. His place on the team is still invaluable given his ability to still make incredible catches unlike another other, alongside his leadership role to the younger guys. Fitzgerald is arguably the team’s most important player, even at his age.
Patrick Peterson struggled coming off his suspension in 2019. We had discussed where to put him a good amount, but at the end of the day, Peterson is a future Hall of Famer and a Cardinals great. His play at the end of the season proved he still has the ability to perform at a high level. Peterson’s presence on the defense gives the young secondary a leader. The Cardinals are leaning on P2 a ton this year to play like he did prior to 2019.
Kyler Murray is the team’s franchise quarterback that they will build around for the foreseeable future. There are certainly areas in which Murray will need to improve for next season, but the team plans for him to be the next face of the franchise following the inevitable retirement of Larry Fitzgerald.
Tier 3: Premier
These players are up-and-coming young players or established premier veterans. They’re essential to the team’s success moving forward and make their teammates around them better. Given the recent struggles of the Cardinals, they might not get the recognition they deserve yet.
S Budda Baker
LB Jordan Hicks
WR Christian Kirk
LT D.J. Humphries
Budda Baker is the player in this tier who has shown the highest ceiling to this point. Coming off his first Pro Bowl selection as a safety, Baker is expected to take another jump next season. His versatility on the field is reminiscent of former Cardinal Tyrann Mathieu, a caliber of player that Baker certainly has the potential to become.
Christian Kirk has yet to become the type of player Cardinals fans believe he will be, but the flashes of talent have already showcased themselves. In his rookie year, Kirk was a bright spot in an otherwise non-existent offense. He had a few signature games(BAL, TB) in 2019, but was again hindered by a nagging injury. Should he remain healthy in 2020, he should break out into an elite player. The added presence of DeAndre Hopkins will help him as well.
D,J. Humphries had a great season after an injury-riddled start to his career. We gave him the nod into Tier 3, given that his production when healthy is undeniable. If he does remain healthy for the future and beyond, he will likely be protecting Kyler Murray’s blindside for a long time.
Jordan Hicks was a fantastic addition by Steve Keim and the front office. He lead the team with three interceptions from his inside linebacker position and was a tackling machine. He earned his spot on this list not just as a result of the year he had with the Cardinals, but also due to his play when he was a Philadelphia Eagle. He should be an anchor of the Cardinals defense for a long time.
Tier 4: Quality
These players are very good at performing their particular roles at a high level. They are reliable pieces to the team that give you a consistent display of talent each week. Some of the younger players on this list will likely be in a higher tier following the conclusion of the 2020 season.
RB Kenyan Drake
P Andy Lee
G Justin Pugh
OT Marcus Gilbert
OLB Devon Kennard
LB De’Vondre Campbell
DT Jordan Phillips
DT Corey Peters
K Zane Gonzalez
Players like Devon Kennard, Corey Peters, Justin Pugh, Andy Lee, and Marcus Gilbert are good veteran players that are all very important to the team. These players have had success in this league and are great people to have in the team’s young locker room.
Kenyan Drake was an interesting one on this list. Given that 2019 was his first season being the featured back, and that he wasn’t acquired by Arizona until October, we didn’t put him higher on the list quite yet. However, make no mistake, Drake will shine in a full year as the featured back in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. It’s only a matter of time.
Tier 5: Unknown
These players are simply very young or coming off an injury. Their time with the Cardinals has been very short, so it is hard to evaluate them. Many of the players on this list are heavily expected to become great players in the future.
C Mason Cole
G J.R. Sweezy
TE Maxx Williams
CB Robert Alford
DL Zach Allen
LB Isaiah Simmons
S Jalen Thompson
The young players on this list have high expectations going into 2020 and will all get plenty of playing time. Mason Cole and Jalen Thompson are slated as starters, with Isaiah Simmons to get plenty of reps as well. We expect all three of these players to develop into important pieces to the Cardinals’ successes.
The veterans on this list simply have not played a lot of time with the Cardinals. J.R. Sweezy, Maxx Williams, and Robert Alford have all only been with the team for a year. Alford has struggled with injuries and is slated to return to starting outside cornerback with a chance to prove himself. These players have their opportunities to remain with the team long-term with more solid play in 2020 and beyond.
What do you agree with? What do you disagree with? Let us know!
I would also like to give another shoutout to my good friend @Cardinalselite on Instagram and Twitter for collaborating on this with me. He has some of the best Cardinals content on the web, so be sure to check him out.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
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