As the roster cutdown deadline (next Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET) approaches, NFL teams are making deals, sending players to other teams who otherwise probably would not make their roster. It gives the sending team the opportunity to get something in return for a player rather than cutting him for nothing. For the receiving team, they can acquire a player without having to go through the waiver process and risk missing out on someone they want.
So far, the Arizona Cardinals have not made any deals, though general manager Monti Ossenfort is no stranger to making cutdown deals. Last year, they traded former third-round pick Cam Thomas. The year before, they sent off linebacker Isaiah Simmons and tackle Josh Jones. They acquired quarterback Josh Dobbs that way.
Could they wheel and deal again?
Let’s have a look at some players perhaps they could send elsewhere and get a late-round pick back for. These are not rumored deals or guys even on the trading block. They are players who might have some value for another team.
OLB BJ Ojulari
The Cardinals seem to have rebuilt their outside linebacker room without him. They have Josh Sweat, Zaven Collins, Baron Browning and added Jordan Burch in the draft. Ojulari is still technically rehabbing his knee more than a year after tearing his ACL, so he can’t be traded while hurt, but should they activate him from PUP, perhaps he could be a guy another team would take a flyer on.
CB Elijah Jones
Jones was a third-round pick last year but didn’t play as a rookie, and he hasn’t looked particularly great in the preseason. He did make a very good play forcing a fumble at the goalline late in the last preseason game, he has length and elite athleticism, is young and also was a good special teams player in college. However, there doesn’t seem to be room for him on the roster with the current group of cornerbacks.
Another team looking for youth, length and athleticism perhaps would send a seventh-round pick for him.
DL Dante Stills
Stills is actually the team’s most tradeable asset. With the injuries to Walter Nolen, Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols, all of whom have fully guaranteed salaries, Stills might be needed on the roster, but he is still just a backup.
And with the emergence of undrafted rookie Elijah Simmons and P.J. Mustipher, Stills could get perhaps the most value. He is young, still cheap in his third year in the NFL and has been productive. While his effort can be inconsistent, he has eight sacks in two seasons.
WR Greg Dortch
Dortch appears to be WR4 in the offensive rotation now, which means he won’t have as many opportunities. And if the Cardinals like Xaver Weaver enough to do what Dortch does (he could be WR4 as a gadget player and a punt returner), Dortch might have value for another team.
S Joey Blount
Blount is a stud special teams player, but the Cardinals drafted Kitan Crawford in the seventh round, and he has looked good in the preseason. Can they keep five safeties? That might be tough. Blount’s special teams play could be valuable to someone.
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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: 5 Cardinals who might have trade value leading up to roster cuts
