Arizona Cardinals rookie usage raises questions over rebuilding strategy

Arizona Cardinals rookie usage raises questions over rebuilding strategy

A paradox has emerged during the early stages of the Arizona Cardinals’ training camp. While the team is categorized as a rebuilder—holding a total win over/under of 3.5, the lowest of any team since the league moved to a 17-game regular season in 2021—their rookie class is not currently positioned for significant immediate contribution.

The usage of the team's top draft picks appears to conflict with the needs of a rebuilding franchise. Typically, for a team not expected to win, the development and identification of young talent are paramount. However, several high-profile rookies are currently playing behind veterans.

Jeremiyah Love, the No. 3 overall pick, has seen fewer carries than Tyler Allgeier. While the two have mostly rotated during first-team offense series, Allgeier has received the first work on each practice day. Love’s current hurdles include protection in the pass game and how defenders treat him as a receiver, according to Mike LaFleur.

Similarly, Chase Bisontis, taken 34th overall, has worked exclusively with the second team at right guard. He is currently behind Isaiah Adams, a 2024 third-round pick whom LaFleur described as a strong and sturdy dude on the inside. LaFleur noted that Adams required a longer adjustment period to the NFL due to his background in Canadian college football.

At quarterback, Carson Beck, a third-round selection, has operated primarily as the third-string option. He sits behind Gardner Minshew and Jacoby Brissett. Though Beck had his best practice yet on Wednesday, July 29, he has struggled at times on the field.

The lack of immediate opportunity for the top picks extends further down the roster:

• Defensive tackle Kaleb Proctor (fourth round) is out for the season with a torn meniscus.
• Wide receiver Reggie Virgil (fifth round) and linebacker Karson Sharar (sixth round) have worked with the third team.
• Tackle Jayden Williams (seventh round) is the only member of the class whose stock has risen, as he currently works with the second-team offensive line.

These roster dynamics raise questions regarding the blueprint of general manager Monti Ossenfort. The Cardinals invested the No. 3 overall pick in a running back, a move that suggests a need to transform the offense, yet they signed Allgeier to a two-year deal and brought back James Conner on a restructured contract.

The strategy at guard is similarly unclear. Isaac Seumalo is on a three-year deal that runs through the 2027 season, and Adams remains under contract for two more years. This leaves the 34th overall pick, Bisontis, potentially as a backup for two years at a non-premium position.

The quarterback situation also presents a contradiction. Despite the investment in Beck, the team signed Minshew and provided Brissett with a pay raise last week to resolve a contract holdout. This emphasis on veteran stability clashes with the need to evaluate Beck's potential, particularly if the team is in a position to draft a quarterback early in the first round next year.

When asked before the draft to choose between a contender or rebuilder pathway, Ossenfort declined to pick one.

"Every decision that you make has to consider both. Every decision that's made with the roster, with a draft pick, with a free agent signing, it's got an eye to this year, it's got an eye to … how's this is gonna affect us tomorrow."

Monti Ossenfort, General Manager, via broncoswire.usatoday.com

While it is early in the calendar and before August, the current trajectory suggests significant hurdles to playing time for the new class. The coming weeks will determine if Love becomes the bellcow in Week 1, if Bisontis starts by October, or if Beck emerges as a late-season gem.