National Football League

Cardinals notebook: Opportunity at inside linebacker?

Published May. 15, 2015 11:17 a.m. ET

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TEMPE, Ariz. -- Inside linebacker Edwin Jackson gave voice to many of the undrafted players in Cardinals rookie camp last week when he summed up his situation like this: "I am a small school guy. I did get overlooked. I didn't get any scholarships coming out of high school but I'm still fighting. I'm still pushing because I know there is an opportunity for me here."

Jackson may have more opportunity than most, given the team's need at inside linebacker. The Cardinals signed Sean Weatherspoon in the offseason and he will start. They have 2013 second-round pick Kevin Minter as a run stuffer, Glenn Carson and Kenny Demens for depth, and just signed veteran Darryl Sharpton. But Daryl Washington's situation still is in limbo and Larry Foote is leaning toward retirement.

"The big thing there will be special teams value," coach Bruce Arians said. "For all those linebackers spots, you'd better be a core special teams player. If you can get one of those jobs we'll let you play linebacker in need. That's the ticket for a bunch of these guys."

Georgia Southern's Jackson (a college walk-on), Bowling Green's Gabe Martin, Florida Atlantic's Andrae Kirk, Mississippi State's Jamar Chaney, BYU's Alani Fua (listed as an inside linebacker but tall at 6-5), Rice's Zack Patt (a swing linebacker) and South Florida's Kion Wilson are all in camp trying to take advantage of that opportunity.

"I loved playing special teams in college," Kirk said. "I played every single special teams unit: punt, punt return, kickoff, kickoff return, so it's definitely something I'm comfortable with."

Cardinals second-round pick Markus Golden and fourth-round pick Rodney Gunter signed four-year deals on Wednesday, bringing the total of signed draft picks to four after fifth-round picks J.J. Nelson and Shaq Riddick signed earlier in the week.

The three remaining unsigned draft picks are first-round pick D.J. Humphries, third-round David Johnson and seventh-rounder Gerald Christian. All three should be completed soon since the slotted rookie pay scale removes any drama from the process.

The National Football Post reported Wednesday that Christian had done his own deal without an agent -- a $2.332 million deal, including $52,784 in signing bonus.

While much of the local attention was focused on Arizona State quarterback Taylor Kelly at last week's rookie camp, the QB in camp with the best odds -- albeit long -- to challenge Logan Thomas for the third on the depth chart is Winston-Salem State's Phillip Sims.

One of the most hyped and highly rated prospects in the 2010 recruiting class, Sims was in the mix with A.J. McCarron for Alabama's starting quarterback job as a redshirt freshman in 2011.

Phillip Sims, while at Virginia in 2012.

Sims left Alabama before the 2012 season and ended up at Virginia where he threw for 1,263 yards and nine touchdowns with just four interceptions as a redshirt sophomore.

Sims transferred to Winston-Salem State in 2013 after being ruled academically ineligible at Virginia. He was ineligible to play in 2013, but he threw for 1,560 yards and 15 touchdowns with four interceptions as a redshirt senior last season while sharing time with quarterback Rudy Johnson.

"It's hard to single out one or two (players), but Philip threw the ball extremely well," Arians said last week after a workout. "He's very, very bright."

It's still early and any talk of Sims challenging Thomas is likely laced with hyperbole and intent to motivate Thomas in a competitive environment. But Sims clearly had enough ability to pique the interest of the nation's premier college football program. He shouldn't be discounted.

The Cardinals want kick returner/receiver J.J. Nelson to bulk up to about 175 pounds by the start of the season. Nelson thinks he's about 160 pounds right now.

When asked if the added weight would impact his blinding speed -- he ran 4.28 in the 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine -- Nelson shook his head.

"I think it will help me a lot," he said. "When I was in college I was at 165 at one point and I ran a 4.28. I feel like it will help me be very explosive and have more strength -- have more power. I don't have a problem with gaining weight."

Aside from inside linebacker, the other position of significant need that the Cardinals did not address in the draft was cornerback. With Antonio Cromartie gone via free agency, the Cardinals will turn to either veteran Jerraud Powers or unproven special teams standout Justin Bethel as the starter opposite Patrick Peterson. Bethel's length and speed make him a better fit but he lacks the resume. Powers seems a better fit in the slot but Arians trusts him implicitly.

Two players who could fit into the mix are Alfonzo Dennard, who was claimed off waivers after the Patriots released him, and Jimmy Legree.

Dennard (5-10, 200) was the Patriots' seventh-round pick in 2012. He started 16 games for New England between 2012 and 2013, but he played behind Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner last season, playing in six games (four starts) before a season-ending hamstring injury.

Legree spent 2014 on the Cardinals practice squad. At 6-foot, 187 pounds, he is similar in stature to Bethel and he made an impression on Arians in the first week of rookie camp.

"I thought the one guy that stood out was Jimmy Legree," Arians said. "He got his hands on some balls. He's gained some weight this year and made some nice improvement. We could use him this year."

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