The 2026 NFL season for the Arizona Cardinals is set to kick off on Sept. 13, so the team could make a lot of moves to its 53-man roster before then.
Who could be some potential targets for the Cardinals to sign as NFL free agents before Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers?
Check out the latest speculation, news and rumors surrounding Arizona's roster construction for the 2026 season.
The Cardinals are entering their first year under coach Mike LaFleur and still have some questions about their roster, particularly on the defensive side of the football.
Corey Kiner traded to Patriots
One small piece of the Cardinals' roster puzzle emerged on Saturday morning, when they shipped running back Corey Kiner to the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2028 seventh-round pick, per
ESPN.
With Jeremiyah Love and James Conner both nursing injuries that could jeopardize their Week 1 status, there seemed to be a chance that Kiner could make the roster as the Cardinals' final running back — especially after he was removed early from their preseason finale. Now, they will most likely keep four backs: Love, Conner, Tyler Allgeier and Bam Knight.
The caveat would be if Conner begins the year on injured reserve, in which case the Cardinals could either roster three backs or keep Evan Hull as a fourth.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cardinals free agency updates, rumors, news, signings for 2026 season
