Three Cardinals Rookies Who Could Win Position Battles
The Arizona Cardinals brought on some talented rookies through the 2023 NFL Draft, and while some are expected to slide into other roles right away, there's other rookies who find themselves on the border of making significant contributions or sitting behind veterans.
While top picks such as offensive linemen Paris Johnson Jr. and edge rusher BJ Ojulari are sure to have ample opportunity to make an impact this season, the rest of their draft class looks to prove themselves with training camp just a month away.
Before we get started - cornerback Garrett Williams would be a prime candidate for this list, but he's still recovering from an ACL tear. When completely healthy, he could very well end up as Arizona's top corner.
Here's three Cardinals rookies who are capable of breaking through and winning their position battle ahead of the 2023 season:
QB Battle: Clayton Tune
© Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
It feels like everybody in Arizona is ready to get Tuned Up.
Clayton Tune didn't waste any time when talking with reporters after he was drafted, as the first words that left his mouth were "I believe I'm the best quarterback in this class".
Tune performed quite well at Houston despite being just a Day 3 pick, and through voluntary workouts and minicamps, Tune has impressed.
"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 myself 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," Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said.
The big question is: Can Tune outperform Colt McCoy?
McCoy is the clear frontrunner for the starting position until Kyler Murray returns thanks to his vast experience in the league - but can the younger and more athletic Tune challenge him?
Absolutely - and if Tune really makes some strong strides in training camp, perhaps the decision to start McCoy becomes tougher than anticipated.
WR2 Battle: Michael Wilson
There's hype - and then there's Michael Wilson hype.
After the departure of DeAndre Hopkins, Marquise Brown now slides into the role of Arizona's WR1.
However, it's anybody's guess as to who will emerge as the second option in Arizona's offense. Names such as Rondale Moore, Greg Dortch and Zach Pascal should have opportunities, though Wilson has looked particularly strong in the very early parts of his summer.
"Michael has come in as a rookie. And [we outlined] 'Hey man, this is what's expected. And this is what we're expecting from you. Here's your role,' and he's taken to it," said Gannon.
"He's doing a really good job, especially for a rookie. I think in any offense it moves a little fast and where we are today, he's light years ahead of when he came in here for rookie minicamp. So that's good to see."
The only thing that held Wilson back at Stanford were injuries, and the 6-2 receiver has already shown teammates what he can do in a controlled setting.
Live competition will be the next test for Wilson, but if he can carry momentum into training camp/preseason, it's hard to imagine him shining opposite of Hollywood.
Center Battle: Jon Gaines
This one might be the toughest out of the three listed position battles to win.
However, Jon Gaines flew under the radar at the 2023 NFL Draft as a versatile OL who has played across the board, and really his only competition is a journeyman center in Hjalte Froholdt.
Froholdt seemingly has a firm grasp on the spot, though Gaines will undoubtedly get his opportunity to show what he can do.
“Clearly; mentally he can handle it. He’s one of the sharper guys we dealt with all spring. So any time you get a guy who’s just a guard or just a center, you guys see how many injuries you get. Guys get shuffled around. So having a guy who’s done it, not just projected to do it, you can look at some tape and see that and that’s a very valuable skill set," said assistant GM Dave Sears.
While Gaines projects better as a potential starter down the road from 2023, he's very much in position to take the starting center spot if a mixture of strong play from him + Froholdt disappoints.
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