The Arizona Cardinals are in a good situation to take advantage of the disaster draft. They have a roster of aging veterans and overpriced deals that I’m sure they would be happy to let go. Remember, we are keeping only sixteen players from each team, as the two-team disaster draft led to extra drastic cuts that need to be made. Also remember, all free agents are immediately dumped back into the player pool.
Notable Free Agents:
Drew Stanton, Justin Bethel, Karlos Dansby, Tyvon Branch, John Brown, Jaron Brown, Frostee Rucker, Kerwynn Williams, Max Tuerk, Matt Barkley
The No Doubters:
| PLAYER | POS | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
| Patrick Peterson | CB | $13,706,965 | $14,956,965 | $11,884,588 | $13,184,588 | UFA |
| Chandler Jones | OLB | $10,000,000 | $15,500,000 | $19,500,000 | $19,000,000 | $18,500,000 |
| Deone Bucannon | ILB | $2,452,928 | $8,718,000 | UFA | – | – |
| Haason Reddick | ILB | $2,450,539 | $3,063,174 | $3,675,809 | $4,288,444 | – |
| Robert Nkemdiche | DE | $1,954,681 | $2,345,618 | $2,736,555 | – | UFA |
| A.Q. Shipley | C | $1,637,500 | $2,112,500 | UFA | – | – |
| Budda Baker | S | $1,241,819 | $1,552,274 | $1,862,729 | $2,173,184 | UFA |
| David Johnson | RB | $799,843 | $889,344 | UFA | – | – |
If we revisited this disaster draft in two years, the Cardinals might be begging to get rid of Patrick Peterson, but heading into the 2018 season, he remains the defense’s heart and soul. The linebacker combo of Jones/Bucannon/Reddick go alongside Peterson to create the core of their defense for the near future. Nkemdiche, Shipley and Baker make it for the intersection of cost control and talent. David Johnson might be the best contract steal in the entirety of the NFL and truly exists in his own category above being a “no doubter.” Noticeably missing: Tyrann Mathieu. Honey Badger is coming up on a big pay raise, and the Cardinals may be regretting that decision given that he has torn his ACL twice in four years.
The More-Than-Likely Staying:
| PLAYER | POS | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
| Carson Palmer | QB | $24,125,000 | $20,625,000 | UFA | – | – |
| Larry Fitzgerald | WR | $15,850,000 | $16,850,000 | UFA | – | – |
| Jared Veldheer | RT | $10,000,000 | $10,250,000 | UFA | – | – |
| Mike Iupati | G | $9,700,000 | $9,700,000 | $9,700,000 | UFA | – |
| Tyrann Mathieu | FS | $8,100,000 | $14,100,000 | $14,100,000 | $14,100,000 | $9,500,000 |
| Corey Peters | DT | $4,347,918 | $2,687,500 | $4,437,500 | $4,187,500 | UFA |
| Markus Golden | OLB | $1,068,636 | $1,246,742 | UFA | – | – |
| J.J. Nelson | WR | $667,450 | $757,450 | UFA | – | – |
The Cardinals have an issue of big, expensive contracts that don’t allow for a heck of a lot of depth. Their other QBs are free agents, so they’re stuck with Palmer. Fitzgerald might be kept and retire, same with Veldheer. Mike Iupati has been plagued with injuries in his time in Arizona, same with Mathieu, but both are quality players. The only thing keeping Golden off the No Doubters is his ACL tear recovery. I’m not in the building, so they may be seeing something we don’t. Still, he should belong in the No Doubters when healthy. Corey Peters would be an awfully strange casualty given the players behind him and that he’s four weeks removed from an extension through 2020. J.J. Nelson has shown a ton of promise, and the Cards need a second WR that won’t potentially suddenly retire… also I needed a sixteenth player.
The Goners:
Good luck to the Conquistadors and the Arches, as the Cardinals offer you the following players in tribute.
| PLAYER | POS | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
| Jermaine Gresham | TE | $3,750,000 | $7,250,000 | $8,250,000 | $8,750,000 | UFA |
| Antoine Bethea | SS | $3,416,666 | $4,416,666 | $4,916,668 | UFA | – |
| Phil Dawson | K | $2,500,000 | $3,500,000 | UFA | – | – |
| Josh Mauro | DT | $2,500,000 | $3,300,000 | UFA | – | – |
| D.J. Humphries | LT | $2,430,576 | $2,835,672 | – | UFA | – |
| Andy Lee | P | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | UFA | – | – |
| Rodney Gunter | DT | $742,479 | $832,480 | UFA | – | – |
| Brandon Williams | CB | $731,673 | $824,173 | $908,676 | UFA | – |
| Adrian Peterson | RB | $705,882 | $3,500,000 | UFA | – | – |
| Evan Boehm | G | $666,620 | $756,620 | $846,623 | UFA | – |
| Chad Williams | WR | $641,572 | $758,072 | $848,072 | $928,572 | UFA |
| Will Holden | T | $532,032 | $622,032 | $712,032 | $802,035 | UFA |
| Johnathan Ford | S | $472,514 | $590,045 | $680,045 | $770,046 | UFA |
| T.J. Logan | RB | $398,484 | $605,484 | $695,484 | $785,485 | UFA |
| Ronald Zamort | CB | $348,000 | – | ERFA | – | – |
| Bryson Albright | OLB | $246,177 | $555,000 | ERFA | – | – |
Disclaimer goes here: Roster is as of December 29, 2017 and salary figures are from Spotrac.com
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