The 2024 Arizona Cardinals season was supposed to be the "clean slate" year. After the messy fallout of the Kliff Kingsbury era, Monti Ossenfort and Jonathan Gannon finally had a full cupboard of draft picks and a healthy Kyler Murray. But if you looked at the Cardinals depth chart 2024 in August versus what actually took the field in December, you’d see two completely different teams.
Most people look at a depth chart as a static list. It's not. It's a living, breathing, and often bleeding document. Between the arrival of a generational talent like Marvin Harrison Jr. and the brutal reality of the NFL injury bug, the 2024 roster was a lesson in "next man up" philosophy. Honestly, some of the names that ended up starting in the final weeks were guys who weren't even on the radar during training camp.
The Kyler-MHJ Connection: A New Era Under Center
Everything starts with Kyler Murray. People love to debate his leadership or his height, but the reality is the offense is night and day when he’s healthy. In 2024, he finally had a true WR1. Marvin Harrison Jr. didn't just walk into the locker room; he redefined the gravity of the entire field.
When MHJ is on the outside, safeties have to cheat. They have no choice. This opened up massive lanes for Trey McBride, who basically cemented himself as a top-three tight end in the league this year. McBride ended up being Kyler’s security blanket, finishing with numbers that would make most receivers jealous.
But let's talk about the backup situation. For a while, the QB2 spot was a battle between Desmond Ridder and Clayton Tune. Ridder brought veteran experience, but Tune’s familiarity with Drew Petzing’s system kept him in the mix longer than people expected. If you're looking at the Cardinals depth chart 2024, the stability at quarterback was the best it's been in years, even if the win-loss record didn't always reflect it.
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The Trenches: Where the Depth Chart Got Messy
If the skill positions were the flashy part of the house, the offensive line was the foundation that kept cracking. Paris Johnson Jr. made the move to left tackle, and for the most part, he looked like the franchise cornerstone they drafted him to be. He's got those long levers and a mean streak that Gannon loves.
Then things got weird.
- Evan Brown was supposed to be the steady hand at guard, but personal issues and rotations saw him moving around.
- Will Hernandez has been a warrior for this team, but his season-ending injury was a gut punch.
- Hjalte Froholdt was arguably the MVP of the unit just for staying healthy and anchoring the center spot.
The right side of the line became a rotating door of "who's that?" Christian Jones and Isaiah Adams, both rookies, got thrown into the fire. Adams, specifically, had a rough start—he actually got benched at one point—before fighting his way back into the lineup. It wasn't pretty, but that's how depth is built.
Defense: Budda Baker and the No-Names
On the defensive side of the ball, the Cardinals depth chart 2024 looked like a bunch of draft picks and "bridge" veterans. Budda Baker is still the heart and soul. There were rumors he might be traded, but he stayed and did what Budda does: tackle everything that moves. He earned another Pro Bowl nod because, quite frankly, the defense would have been a disaster without him.
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The defensive line was a major concern heading into the year. Darius Robinson, the first-round pick out of Missouri, was hyped as the next great pass rusher. But a calf injury in camp delayed his debut for months. In his absence, guys like Dante Stills and L.J. Collier had to play way more snaps than the coaching staff probably intended.
One of the biggest surprises? Mack Wilson Sr. Before he got hurt late in the year, he was playing like a man possessed. He brought a "violence" (Gannon’s favorite word) to the linebacker corps that they’ve lacked since... well, maybe ever.
The Secondary Shuffle
The cornerback room was basically a laboratory. Max Melton, the second-round pick, showed flashes of being a lockdown guy, but he also had those "rookie moments" where he’d get burned on a double move.
- Garrett Williams proved he belongs in the slot.
- Starling Thomas V was the unsung hero, starting 15 games after most people thought he was just a special teams guy.
- Sean Murphy-Bunting was brought in to be the veteran leader, but injuries sidelined him for a huge chunk of the season.
Special Teams: The Hidden Value
You can't talk about the 2024 roster without mentioning the specialists. Chad Ryland eventually took over the kicking duties, and while the fan base was nervous after the Matt Prater era began to wind down, Ryland held his own.
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The punting situation was a bit of a saga. Blake Gillikin went down with a back injury, and Matt Haack had to step in. Haack actually completed a pass on a fake punt, which was probably one of the top five highlights of the entire season. It's those little details on the depth chart—the guys at the very bottom—that often decide games in the NFL.
How the 2024 Draft Class Reshaped the Roster
Monti Ossenfort went heavy on volume in the draft, and it paid off. You don't get 12 picks and expect them all to sit on the bench.
- Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR): Immediate starter, changed the scheme.
- Darius Robinson (DL): Developmental year marred by injury, but the talent is there.
- Max Melton (CB): Future CB1 potential, needs more consistency.
- Trey Benson (RB): He was the "heir apparent" to James Conner. Conner is a beast, but Benson’s speed is a different gear.
- Tip Reiman (TE): A "blocking first" tight end who actually became a sneaky receiving threat.
Real Talk: The Limitations of the 2024 Roster
Look, we have to be honest here. The Cardinals depth chart 2024 was still that of a rebuilding team. They lacked a consistent "edge" threat—the guy who gets 10+ sacks and keeps offensive coordinators awake at night. Zaven Collins is a good player, but he’s not a pure burner off the edge.
The interior defensive line also struggled against the heavy-run teams like the 49ers and Rams. Relying on waiver-wire pickups and late-round rookies is a gamble. Sometimes you win (like with Dante Stills), and sometimes you get pushed around for 60 minutes.
Actionable Insights for the Offseason
If you're following this team, don't just look at the starters. The real growth happens in the middle of the roster. Here is what you should be watching as we move toward the next cycle:
- Monitor the Extension Talks: James Conner and Budda Baker are the emotional anchors. If they aren't back, the depth chart loses its "identity" overnight.
- Track the Injury Recoveries: Watch the news on Darius Robinson and Jonah Williams. Their health determines if the Cardinals have to spend big in free agency or if they can trust their internal development.
- The Year 2 Jump: Keep a close eye on Isaiah Adams and Max Melton. In the Gannon system, the biggest improvement usually happens between year one and year two.
- Draft Strategy: Expect the front office to target a premium pass rusher. The 2024 chart proved that while the offense is getting there, the defense still lacks a "closer."
The 2024 season wasn't just about winning games; it was about figuring out who is actually part of the future. The depth chart told a story of a team that is talented at the top but still dangerously thin in the middle.