Cuts that I am confident will happen:
Tyrann Mathieu
It is already known he will not take a pay cut. He is going to be released, he is scheduled to be paid like the 5th best defensive back in the league next year. He is not even earning the salary he has this year, that based on pay, makes him a top 25 defensive back.
Justin Bethel
Once a great special teams player, now he is a fringe roster player in the NFL. Time to go.
Mike Iupati
When this guy was healthy, he was a MONSTER in the run game. A lot of the trouble running the ball is that Iupati has been hurt for two seasons. I think at this point it is time to let Iupati walk and start again at the position. He is too injury prone to be relied upon, and his salary of 9.7 mil for the next two seasons is too much to take on. The only thing that saves Iupati is if he is willing to take a pay cut, not restructure, but a pay cut. I doubt that will happen.
Cuts that I am not sure will happen:
Carson Palmer
Palmer has yet to say he wants to retire. The Cardinals will be looking to go in a different direction, and Palmer is scheduled to make 20mil next year. Cutting him saved 14 million. There is a chance where both sides agree to disagree and he is let go. There is a chance he stays to be the bridge to the next QB. There is a chance he retires.
Jared Veldheer
Another player that may retire. He is scheduled to make 10 million next year. I understand tackles are hard to come by in this league, but I have no issue starting Humphries and Wetzel next season. Veldheer is not a good right tackle, and the Cardinals already have a plan and a backup plan for the left tackle position. I can see Veldheer retiring, being released, or a surprise trade to a team that needs a left tackle in the draft.
Antoine Bethea
Youth will be served. Does that include Bethea ? I do not mind him coming back, but the risk of when the drop off comes for older players is always there. He has already showed he is not the athlete he once was, but he has produced.
Jermaine Gresham
Its an awful head scratching contract. If you are going to drop Tyrann Mathieu because he is paid way more than what he produces then Gresham should at least be talked about in regards to being release. It would cost the Cardinals money to cut Gresham and it would take away from the cap for next offseason, but the organization is angry and wants change. I would would surprised if Gresham is cut, but not shocked. Personally I have no issue keeping him around next season.
Adrian Peterson
You never know. I do not see him coming back unless he takes a pay cut AND excepts a backup role. I do not see either happening. Too bad, it was fun watching him run the ball for the Cardinals his year. His injury was a final kick in the nuts to this season. Anything slightly enjoyable was squashed out this year, and quickly.
Depth Guys
Brandon Williams, Rodney Gunter, JJ Nelson, Evan Boehm, Will Holden, DJ Foster, Scooby Wright, Max Tuerk, Bryson Albright, Gabe Martin, Harlan Miller, Bronson Hill, Rudy Ford
I am sure the bargain basement players on the team will be invited to camp next season, and there will be many factors if these players stick around for 2018. There salaries are farts in the wind so it doesn't really matter what happens with these players. If the Cardinals can upgrade this depth they will do it.
Cuts that I want to happen:
Phil Dawson
There are plenty of other, younger, cheaper options who can miss as many field goals as Dawson does.
Josh Mauro
Has not lived up to his new contract. Youth will be served, since there are cheaper options out there that can produce the same. Cory Peters, Frostee Rucker, and Olsen Pierre where you starters this year. Pierre (an easy re-sign as a ERFA) can take over the position.
Deone Bucannon
This is a first round pick, SMH. Drafted as a safety, and put a ILBer because of the Daryl Washington* fiasco. He is not the player he is hyped to be. He was outplayed by Josh Bynes, and to take on his 5th year option, would pay him almost 9mil. I see Bucannon is a wasted talent who was poorly managed. He will end up being a great role player on a team and make us feel stupid for letting him go, but the Cardinals are a long way off from worrying about role players, and you do not pay a role player 9mil a season.
A.Q. Shipley
If youth will be served, then let someone else in to play this position. Shipley is the Cardinals standard at the center position, which is a weak, athletically limited player, who is kept for his smarts, yet this team gets destroyed by stunts and pressure up the middle every game. Cutting him only saves 1.2 million, I just am tired of watching our QB's get hurt because they cannot step up in the pocket, or a stunt comes up the middle and kills the QB.
Depth Guys
Brandon Williams, Rodney Gunter, JJ Nelson, Evan Boehm, Will Holden, DJ Foster, Scooby Wright, Max Tuerk, Bryson Albright, Gabe Martin, Harlan Miller, Bronson Hill, Rudy Ford
*Daryl Washington - I say is the single biggest issue that killed the Cardinals window that has now closed. He cost this team, time, money, draft picks, wins, and the list goes on. Deone Bucannon is a safety if Washington is still around. The Cardinals have a stronger defense in 2015 if Washington is still around. You do not draft Kevin Minter, if Washington is still around. One person, did all that damage. Just another reason we will never see Washington in this league again. Guy deserves any hardships he is having with his life, he earned them, really earned them.