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5 Players the Arizona Cardinals Should Cut During 2016 Offseason

5 Players the Arizona Cardinals Should Cut During Offseason

5 Players the Arizona Cardinals Should Cut During Offseason Matt Kartozian USA TODAY Sports
The Arizona Cardinals have had a successful 2015 season, with 13 regular season wins and the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs. After what they hope will be a deep playoff run, here are five players the Cardinals should cut during the offseason.

The Arizona Cardinals have had a successful 2015 season, with 13 regular season wins and the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs. After what they hope will be a deep playoff run, here are five players the Cardinals should cut during the offseason.

5. TE Troy Niklas

TE Troy Niklas Scott Galvin USA TODAY Sports
Niklas has done little in his first two seasons, with seven catches over 23 games. Tight ends are not prominent in Bruce Arians' offense as pass catchers, so Niklas is a replaceable player that might find a better opportunity with another team.

Niklas has done little in his first two seasons, with seven catches over 23 games. Tight ends are not prominent in Bruce Arians' offense as pass catchers, so Niklas is a replaceable player that might find a better opportunity with another team.

4. RB Stepfan Taylor

RB Stepfan Taylor Chris Humphreys USA TODAY Sports
Taylor keeps falling down the running back pecking order in Arizona, behind Chris Johnson (pre-injury) and David Johnson this season. With one year left on his rookie contract, the Cardinals should have no problem cutting Taylor.

Taylor keeps falling down the running back pecking order in Arizona, behind Chris Johnson (pre-injury) and David Johnson this season. With one year left on his rookie contract, the Cardinals should have no problem cutting Taylor.

3. DE Corey Redding

DE Corey Redding Mark J. Rebilas USA TODAY Sports
Redding had fumble return touchdown in Week 16, but he hasn't had much of an impact overall (12 games, zero starts). Add in a $3 million base salary and a $4 million cap hit for 2016, and the Cardinals should easily cut ties with Redding during the offseason.

Redding had fumble return touchdown in Week 16, but he hasn't had much of an impact overall (12 games, zero starts). Add in a $3 million base salary and a $4 million cap hit for 2016, and the Cardinals should easily cut ties with Redding during the offseason.

2. OG Jonathan Cooper

OG Jonathan Cooper Mark J. Rebilas USA TODAY Sports
Cooper was somehow a top-10 overall pick (No. 7 in 2013), and he has "evolved" from injury-prone to a backup. He is due more in bonuses than guaranteed base salary ($675,000) in 2016, but since Cooper can't keep a starting job the Cardinals should have little use for him.

Cooper was somehow a top-10 overall pick (No. 7 in 2013), and he has "evolved" from injury-prone to a backup. He is due more in bonuses than guaranteed base salary ($675,000) in 2016, but since Cooper can't keep a starting job the Cardinals should have little use for him.

1. LB Daryl Washington

LB Daryl Washington Christian Petersen Getty Images
Washington's career is in serious limbo, with multiple violations of the league's substance abuse policy leaving him without a return date from what was originally just a year-long suspension. He is slated to make $4.4 million (no guaranteed) in base salary in 2016, with a $7.5 million salary cap hit (per Over the Cap.com). There is a financial concern for the Cardinals, since they'd carry $5.5 million in dead money next season by cutting Washington, but they've carried an unavailable player for two seasons now and they should not continue to do it.

Washington's career is in serious limbo, with multiple violations of the league's substance abuse policy leaving him without a return date from what was originally just a year-long suspension. He is slated to make $4.4 million (no guaranteed) in base salary in 2016, with a $7.5 million salary cap hit (per Over the Cap.com). There is a financial concern for the Cardinals, since they'd carry $5.5 million in dead money next season by cutting Washington, but they've carried an unavailable player for two seasons now and they should not continue to do it.

Follow Brad Berreman on Twitter @bradberreman24
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