Arizona Cardinals 53-man roster projection follows a clean preseason opener, with Kyler Murray spearheading an offense that showed the pace head coach Jonathan Gannon wants. Jacoby Brissett shined in relief, making a strong case for a two-QB floor while Clayton Tune’s day underscored the risk of keeping three. In the backfield, James Conner remains the workhorse, while Emari Demercado impressed as a dynamic playmaker, especially as a receiver. Depth behind Conner is real: Benson and Carter supply burst and versatility, with returner value a tiebreaker to watch as cuts approach.

Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch form the top two receivers, with Xavier Weaver and Simi Fehoko providing intriguing later-round upside. The tight end spot is still in flux, but McBride is the starter, and Vokolek’s preseason shows him pushing for snaps. Up front, Paris Johnson Jr. and Jonah Williams anchor the tackles, with Evan Brown, Hjalte Froholdt, and Isaiah Adams shaping interior line depth. Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson anchor a deep interior DL, while Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson pace the secondary. Special teams look set with Chad Ryland, Blake Gillikin, and Aaron Brewer, barring injury.

The offensive linemen of the NFL often fly under the radar, yet players like Hjalte Froholdt and Paris Johnson Jr. of the Arizona Cardinals, and Bernhard Raimann of the Indianapolis Colts, have emerged as significant contributors to their teams' success. Raimann recently signed a lucrative four-year, $100 million extension, underscoring his value despite being underrated by fans. Meanwhile, Johnson, a former top-10 draft pick, has shown impressive growth, particularly playing left tackle, where he ranked first among his peers in PFF grading for his first two seasons.

Raimann has consistently delivered high performance, earning an 88.0 PFF grade over the last two seasons, placing him among the league's elite left tackles. His pass-blocking skills have ranked him in the top tier, proving essential for the Colts' offensive line. Johnson, on the other hand, has transitioned between positions but excelled in 2024 as a left tackle, allowing minimal pressure on his quarterback, a critical factor for the Cardinals' offensive structure.

The Arizona Cardinals are entering training camp with six offensive linemen already secured for the 53-man roster, including five projected starters: left tackle Paris Johnson, left guard Evan Brown, center Hjalte Froholdt, right guard Isaiah Adams, and right tackle Jonah Williams. Backup tackle Kelvin Beachum is also assured a spot on the roster, but the remaining three to four spots are highly competitive.

Current candidates for these critical backup positions include Jon Gaines, who held the role last season, alongside Nick Leverett, Sincerer Haynesworth, and rookie Hayden Conner. Leverett’s versatility allows him to play at different positions along the line, making him a valuable asset. Added depth comes from free agents Royce Newman and Jake Curhan, both of whom have experience at guard. The Cardinals previously kept nine offensive linemen last year, indicating a strategy to maintain a robust reserve as they look to solidify their O-line depth.

The Cincinnati Bengals are facing a challenging start to their training camp as they contend with the contract disputes of two key defensive players, Trey Hendrickson and rookie Shemar Stewart. Hendrickson, who boasts an impressive 35 sacks over the last two years, is looking for a pay hike that approaches the contracts of stars like Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt.

Meanwhile, Stewart remains the last unsigned first-round pick amid disagreements with the team regarding guaranteed money in his contract. Bengals owner Mike Brown acknowledged the prolonged negotiations but emphasized their desire to keep Hendrickson in Cincinnati, indicating that efforts are ongoing to resolve the contract issues.