The only players in rookie minicamp were seven draft picks and six rookie free agents.
The Arizona Cardinals took the practice field on Friday. Well, a few Arizona Cardinals took the practice field. It was the first of three days of rookie minicamp.
One thing was different about this year’s rookie minicamp. There were exactly zero tryout players. The only players participating were the team’s seven draft picks and six rookie free agents.
Arizona Cardinals rookie minicamp roster
- WR Bryson Green (undrafted)
- TE Oscar Cardenas (undrafted)
- OL Hayden Conner (Round 6)
- OL Jeremiah Byers (undrafted)
- OL Josh Fryar (undrafted)
- OL Valentin Senn (undrafted)
- DL Walter Nolen (Round 1)
- DL Elijah Simmons (undrafted)
- OLB Jordan Burch (Round 3)
- ILB Cody Simon (Round 4)
- CB Will Johnson (Round 2)
- CB Denzel Burke (Round 5)
- S Kitan Crawford (Round 7)
This continues to be a departure of what perhaps is the NFL tradition. In years past, the Cardinals would bring in scores of rookies and young players, and sometimes even established veterans, in with a full three days of practice. it was a crash course into the NFL and create competition, allowing tryout players a shot at making the offseason roster for OTAs and beyond.
However, under head coach Jonathan Gannon, that has not been the case. If there have been tryout players, it has been limited.
It is more about pouring information into the rookies so they are better prepared for OTAs, mandatory minicamp and training camp.
They will only be on the field twice, Friday and Saturday. They will have meetings on Sunday but will not be on the field. Then they jump in with the veterans for the second week of Phase 2 of the offseason program.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.