Cardinals cuts tracker: Latest players waived

Price played in six games with Arizona last season after spending his first three years with the Detroit Lions. He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by Detroit in 2023 out of Norfolk State.

The Cardinals seem to have five locks for cornerback spots in Sean Murphy-Bunting, Garrett Williams, Starling Thomas V and rookie Max Melton, but there are a lot of players on the bubble, including second-year CB Kei’Trel Clark and rookie Elijah Jones.

Cardinals trim down offensive line

According to KPRC 2 Houston’s Aaron Wilson, the Cardinals are releasing offensive lineman Marquis Hayes, who could have heavy interest on the waiver wire.

Hayes was drafted by Arizona in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma and was a collegiate teammate of Kyler Murray’s in the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

The Cardinals have a pretty set starting five offensive line with LT Paris Johnson Jr., LG Evan Brown, C Hjalte Froholdt, RG Will Hernandez and RT Jonah Williams.

TE Blake Whiteheart released

According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Cardinals are waiving tight end Blake Whiteheart.

Arizona has a pretty clear top-3 tight ends with Trey McBride, Elijah Higgins and rookie Tip Reiman. Whiteheart signed with the team as an undrafted free agent out of Wake Forest in 2023 and played in two games, recording no stats.

Cardinals release DT Naquan Jones

According to Garafolo, the Cardinals are waiving defensive tackle Naquan Jones, who played in 12 games across the Cardinals and Titans last season, including two starts.

Jones originally joined the Titans as an undrafted free agent out of Michigan State in 2021, but was signed to the Cardinals practice squad on Nov. 10 last year and eventually promote the active roster after being waived by Tennessee.

The Cardinals’ interior defensive line room is pretty deep with free-agent signees Bilal Nichols, Justin Jones and Khyiris Tonga, as well as returnees Roy Lopez, Dante Stills, and L.J. Collier. The star of the room could be first-round rookie Darius Robinson, but he is expected to miss multiple weeks and could go on injured reserve with a calf injury.

Cardinals waive backup QB

After acquiring quarterback Desmond Ridder from the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for Rondale Moore in March, the Cardinals did not like what they saw from him in the preseason.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, “Source: The #AZCardinals are releasing QB Desmond Ridder, who was in a backup battle with Clayton Tune.”

This makes it seem like Tune won the backup quarterback battle.

Ridder cleared concussion protocol after the preseason finale when he was struck in the head without his helmet. These were his preseason game-by-game stats:

• Week 1 vs Saints: 4-for-9 for 43 passing yards, 5 rushes for 39 yards
• Week 2 vs. Colts: 6-for-10 for 71 passing yards, 1 rush for -1 yards
• Week 3 vs. Broncos: 10-for-16 for 111 passing yards, 2 rushes for 25 yards

Ridder did not throw a single interception or touchdown, but was very unimpressive during his time in camp and on the field after playing in 15 games for the Falcons last season.

Chiefs trade for Cardinals OLB

In a surprise move Monday, the Cardinals traded outside linebacker Cameron Thomas to the Chiefs in exchange for seventh-round pick.

According to Rapoport on X, “Sources: The #AZCardinals have traded LB Cam Thomas to the #Chiefs for a 7th round pick. Some added edge help.”

The Cardinals are pretty thin at the edge rusher position after losing BJ Ojulari to a torn ACL, but Thomas was squarely on the bubble of whether or not he would make the team after playing all of yesterday’s preseason finale against the Denver Broncos. Thomas led the Cardinals with three sacks throughout the preseason.

Arizona drafted the 24-year-old Thomas in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of San Diego State. He played in 32 total games over the past two seasons, recording 40 tackles and three sacks (did not have a single sack in 2023).

The trade signals the Cardinals really like fifth-round rookie Xavier Thomas, who did not play in the preseason finale. The Cardinals could also choose to trade for an edge rusher of their own, but right now it appears Thomas, Zaven Collins, Dennis Gardeck, Victor Dimukeje and Jesse Luketa will make up the outside linebacker room with Collins and Gardeck to start.

Cardinals make first roster moves: 6 players cut

On Monday, the Cardinals announced they made their first roster moves by cutting these six players:

• WR Daylen Baldwin
• OLB Chris Garrett
• CB Delonte Hood
• S Verone McKinley III
• CB Michael Ojemudia
• OL Austen Pleasants

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