Four Cardinals Draft Picks Are On The Brink, And Their Last Shot Is Friday

Four Arizona Cardinals draft picks, all taken in either 2023 or 2024, are staring down what could be the end of their NFL careers this Friday. These guys are fighting for their professional lives in the final preseason game, straight up on the roster bubble.

Linebackers Facing The Fight of Their Lives

First up, we’ve got outside linebacker BJ Ojulari. This dude was a 2023 second-round pick, a high draft spot, but he’s been absolutely plagued by injuries. We’re talking two half-seasons in three years, barely any time on the field. Now he’s battling Eku Leota for what’s likely the final OLB spot. Ojulari hasn’t exactly lit it up, and Leota’s been a beast on special teams. If you’re not making plays, especially with an injury history, that’s a tough spot to be in.

Then there’s inside linebacker Owen Pappoe, a 2023 fifth-rounder. He’s duking it out with rookie Karson Sharar for what’s probably the last inside linebacker slot. Pappoe has been massive on special teams, logging over 300 snaps in the last two seasons! But Sharar, the new blood, is also making special teams plays and apparently has some serious upside on defense. That’s a classic vet-vs-rookie battle where the new guy’s potential can easily win out.

Cornerbacks Under the Gun

Over in the secondary, Kei’Trel Clark, a 2023 sixth-round pick, is deep in the cornerback rotation. He’s actually managed to find his way onto the roster the last two seasons, which is something, but now he’s got to outshine Elijah Jones, Star Thomas, and a bunch of other guys. Talk about a crowded room!

And speaking of Elijah Jones, he’s a 2024 third-round pick who’s trying to snag the sixth cornerback spot. That’s a challenge when Will Johnson, Max Melton, Denzel Burke, Garrett Williams, and Sean Murphy-Bunting are all looking like absolute locks for the final roster. One spot left and everyone wants it. Who is going to step up when it matters most?

This Friday isn’t just another game for these four. It’s the ultimate make-or-break moment. Every play, every tackle, every coverage snap, it all gets scrutinized. Their NFL dreams hinge on this one performance. You gotta feel for these guys, laying it all out there.

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Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.