Cardinals Veterans Who Enter Training Camp on the Hot Seat
The Arizona Cardinals' 2023 roster looks a bit shaky, but the good news is this will lead to tons of competition as guys try to stand out and become starters. With so much uncertainty and competition, however, some players will come on the hot seat.
Many returning veterans will be tasked with trying to stand out enough to remain starters or in some cases maintain roster spots. It will be a very healthy part of the first year of the Jonathan Gannon/Monti Ossenfort era, but maybe spell out trouble for others.
Here, we discuss three veterans who will enter training camp on the hot seat for the Cardinals. While this doesn't necessarily mean these guys are in danger of getting cut, they will enter camp as guys who have a lot of work to put in and prove they're worthy of starting.
Let's start with the savviest of all veterans for the Cardinals.
Colt McCoy
There are a lot of quarterbacks on the roster for the Cardinals and this means there are very few spots for guys to stick. The only good news for these guys is Kyler Murray is recovering from a knee injury that could force him to start the year on one of the injured lists. Still, no more than three guys should be kept even if Murray isn't on the active roster to start the year.
Perhaps no quarterback will be under more pressure than Colt McCoy entering camp.
McCoy is entering his 14th NFL season and his third in the desert. While he has played admirably when called upon, there are some younger, cheaper quarterback options the Cardinals may fancy. Rookie Clayton Tune in particular is the most intriguing guy here.
McCoy should have the upper hand to start camp, but he could very well be usurped of his spot if the young guys step up.
Rondale Moore
Rondale Moore's status on the team is not in question given the lack of proven talent at wide receiver. However, there is pressure on Moore to finally stand out for the Cards.
Moore enters his third pro season and might just be the number two receiver on the team currently. The former second-round pick has struggled to make a significant impact for the team, but some of that may be fair to chalk up to former head coach Kliff Kingsbury's scheme.
That won't be the case or a valid excuse this year.
Moore has to find a way to firmly establish himself as a full-time starter for the Cardinals and it will start in training camp. With so much uncertainty from the pass catchers as a whole, Moore needs to become a reliable presence in the receiving core or he could find the bench quickly.
Isaiah Simmons
Through his first three NFL seasons, it is fair to say that Simmons has not lived up to his status as a top-10 draft pick. Worse yet is seeing the players the Cardinals passed on to draft him.
But Simmons should see a fresh start in a new defense under Gannon and we may finally see the full potential of Simmons realized.
What will help Simmons is that he will be used in the secondary on a full-time basis. For an athletic specimen like Simmons, this feels long overdue and will perhaps help him to become the superstar he was envisioned to once be.
This won't guarantee success, however, and Simmons already has his inside linebacker roles forfeited to incoming players like Kyzir White and Krys Barnes. Without a true position, Simmons may be lost in the shuffle and will now have to prove that he belongs in the starting lineup.
How he looks at his new home will be major storyline to watch and his performance will decide the direction of his career in Arizona.
Marco Wilson
Like Moore, Marco Wilson's spot on the roster isn't in question. What will be in question is whether or not he will be the team's top cornerback for 2023, let alone be a starter.
Wilson has shown some flashes of excellence to be a starter for the Cards as exhibited by his three interceptions in 2022, including a meme-worthy pick-six against the Saints. Even still, Wilson is far from a complete player and has weaknesses that could raise some concerns.
Entering training camp, the Cardinals have a bevy of corners ready to compete for starting roles. Veterans like Kris Boyd, Antonio Hamilton, and Rashad Fenton will give him a run for his money. The Cards also added two rookies, Garrett Williams and Kei'Trel Clark to the team and they will both have opportunities to start.
Even though Wilson is perhaps the most proven corner on the roster, so much competition could overshadow him and send him to the bench. it'll be up to the third-year pro to make sure that doesn't happen because a starting spot is all but guaranteed if he works hard enough.
