The Arizona Cardinals are in the midst of a facelift, and we could see that continue with a few marquee names becoming surprise training camp cuts. The Cardinals have seen roster staples like DeAndre Hopkins, Byron Murphy, Markus Golden, JJ Watt, and Rodney Hudson move on this off-season. Who are three more players Arizona could show the door during this summer’s training camp? Let’s find out.
3 Potential Surprise Camp Cuts for the Arizona Cardinals
*Star safety Budda Baker has already requested a trade out of the desert and will not be included on the list, as it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him moved.*
1: Zach Ertz, TE
Cardinals TE Zach Ertz (86) – Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Ertz has been with the Cardinals for two years now after coming over in a trade from the Eagles back in 2021. In 21 games with Arizona, Ertz has 103 receptions, 980 yards, and seven TDs. Needless to say, Ertz can still play. He’s no longer the top-five TE he used to be, but he can still be a difference-maker for a team gunning for the Lombardi trophy should he be one of Arizona’s camp cuts.
Ertz has two years and 21 million dollars left on his contract, and the Cardinals would face 14 million in dead cap should they choose to release him. That’s a hefty chunk of change, but it would create an opportunity for a young player in Trey McBride to step up and take on a big role. Could a team call and make an offer for Ertz? Sure. But I don’t see that as a very likely outcome.
Prediction: Ertz is released and signs with the Jacksonville Jaguars, reuniting with Doug Peterson.
2: Colt McCoy, QB
Cardinals QB Colt McCoy (12) – Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Normally, moving on from a veteran backup QB during training camp cuts wouldn’t be a big surprise. However, it’s a different story with Arizona. Their franchise QB, Kyler Murray, is recovering from a torn ACL. Murray’s timetable for a return is unknown, but there should be no rushing him back anytime soon with the Cardinals being in complete rebuild mode. It’s not unreasonable to think the Cardinals could choose to hold Murray out the entire season. So, why would they cut McCoy? Their expected QB1? Well, rookie Clayton Tune could be the reason.
New head coach Jonathan Gannon spoke very highly of the 5th-round rookie after OTA’s, “What I like about him is he’s not scared. He is not scared. There’s a couple throws that he made out there the last week or so, and I’m like, ‘Man, that’s that’s a tight fit right there.’ And he was like, ‘I know. I’ll get it; I’ll put it in there.’ So I think his handle of the offense has impressed me, and I know the coaches because we’ve thrown a lot at him to operate the offense the way we want the quarterback position operated, and he’s making some good reads.”
If they believe Tune is ready to play, the team could choose to roll him out and allow David Blough, another veteran QB to be his primary backup. McCoy could easily fetch the team a late-round draft pick if a contender loses a QB during camp or isn’t happy with their current backup plan.
Prediction: McCoy is traded to the Packers for a sixth-round pick.
3: D.J. Humphries, OT
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Cardinals LT D.J. Humphries (74) – Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports
This would easily be the biggest surprise of the camp cuts if the Cardinals choose to move on from entrenched LT D.J. Humphries. Humphries was selected in the first round back in 2015 and has been the team’s primary LT for the past six seasons. The youth movement is on in Arizona, though, and between rookie Paris Johnson, and promising third-year man Josh Jones, Arizona has the bodies in place to replace Humphries.
Humphries has done nothing to justify being cut by the team, but a trade could net a nice pick.
Prediction: With 12 million still in cap space, I’m coming back to Jacksonville! Do the Jags really want to go into the season banking on rookie Anton Harrison and unproven third-year man Walker Little being responsible for keeping Trevor Lawrence upright? Jaguars trade a third-round pick to Arizona for Humphries.
