Rookie Corners Have Most to Gain From Cardinals Camp
The dog days of training camp are officially here for the Arizona Cardinals, as today will mark the second week of practice for Arizona ahead of their three-game preseason stretch.
Players will soon begin to separate themselves when the pads come on, though established veterans on the roster are simply looking to make it through without injury.
For rookies, they're looking to prove they belong in their first taste of training camp, though some have more to play for.
Pro Football Focus says Arizona's rookie duo of corners in Kei'Trel Clark and Garrett Williams have the most to gain in the desert:
"A quick glance at the Cardinals’ cornerback room tells all. Former first-round Swiss Army knife Isaiah Simmons is set to switch to cornerback full time, and he’ll join Rashad Fenton, Marco Wilson and Antonio Hamilton. While that group did combine for six interceptions in 2022, they also allowed 10 touchdowns and more than 1,600 yards in coverage. There is little star power to speak of," wrote Ben Cooper.
"It then becomes clear why Arizona drafted two cornerbacks. Third-round pick Garrett Williams will likely come along slowly as he works his way back from an ACL tear suffered last October, currently sitting out on the non-football injury list. Sixth-round pick Kei’Trel Clark brings plenty of college experience — 2,450 snaps of it — to a roster lacking much proven talent. Neither player was overly dominant in 2022, with Williams earning a 72.5 coverage grade and Clark posting a 58.5 mark, but this is a wide-open position group in Arizona."
Both corners have garnered excitement since being drafted, though Williams is still working through injury and hasn't been on the field just yet. Clark, however, recently took reps with the first team defense over the weekend.
Click This Link to Subscribe to All Cardinals on YouTube
Click This Link to Follow All Cardinals on Facebook
Arizona Cardinals Top Stories
One Encouraging Stat for 2023 Cardinals
Kyler Murray Gained "Bulletproof" Mindset in Offseason
How Joe Burrow Helped Kyler Murray During Rehab
Cardinals, Kyler Murray Still Murky on Return