​The Arizona Cardinals will report to training camp on July 22 and begin the work of assembling the roster for the regular season, locking in starting jobs, and clarifying roles across the team. In the lead-up to camp, we will examine each player on the offseason roster, exploring their background, contract details, performance from 2025, the questions they face, and their projected roster outlook.
Here is guard Hayden Conner. Conner enters his second NFL season and his second year with the Cardinals. He was selected in the 2024 NFL draft in the sixth round out of Texas. His rookie year started slowly due to a knee injury sustained in the preseason, which kept him on injured reserve at the outset. He eventually was activated to the 53-man roster for the final six weeks of the season, appeared in five games, and recorded 29 offensive snaps and 19 on special teams.
Conner is in Year 2 of a four-year rookie contract valued at just over $4.1 million. He is scheduled to earn approximately $1.01 million in 2026, which is the league minimum for a second-year player, and his contract will contribute roughly $1.05 million against the salary cap that season.
As a player who spent last season on the fringe of the roster, Conner finds himself in a competitive position as the team shapes its depth along the offensive line. The additions of guard Isaac Seumalo in free agency and guard Chase Bisontis via the draft have made his path to a guaranteed roster spot more uncertain. If the coaching staff views him as a potential center, he could compete with Jon Gaines for the backup center role.
The coaching staff will evaluate whether they see the potential that the previous regime believed existed in Conner. The competition for backup roles along the offensive line promises to be one of the more intriguing battles of camp.
For continued Cardinals coverage, including updates on Hayden Conner and other players, tune in to Cards Wire’s coverage by Jess Root and the team. Catch the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast, available on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts. This preview originally appeared on Cards Wire as “Arizona Cardinals training camp roster preview: OL Hayden Conner.”