The Arizona Cardinals' future officially has a uniform. Rookies reported for minicamp on Thursday, and with that annual rite of passage comes one of the most eagerly anticipated moments for incoming draft picks and undrafted free agents alike: receiving their jersey numbers.
For the Cardinals, a franchise in the middle of a fascinating retool under general manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Mike LaFleur, this rookie class represents the next wave of talent expected to push the team from the NFC West fringe toward legitimate contention. And now, we know exactly which numbers they'll be wearing while doing it.
Jeremiyah Love Gets His Digits
The headline name in this rookie class is undoubtedly running back Jeremiyah Love, the athletic marvel from Notre Dame who fell to the Cardinals on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Love, who dazzled scouts with a rare combination of size, acceleration, and receiving ability out of the backfield, was assigned a jersey number that will now be stitched into Cardinals lore: No. 31.
For fans hoping to grab a Love jersey early, that number is now official. Love joins a backfield that already features the bruising James Conner (No. 6), the explosive Trey Benson (No. 33), and the versatile Tyler Allgeier (No. 22). The competition for touches behind Conner is expected to be fierce, but Love's ability to contribute as both a runner and receiver in offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett's system makes him a fascinating chess piece.
Love's addition to the roster deepens what is already one of the more intriguing running back rooms in the conference. Conner remains the bell cow, but at this stage of his career, the Cardinals know they need to manage his workload. Benson, entering his third season, has shown flashes but hasn't fully seized the RB2 role. That leaves the door cracked for a player of Love's caliber to carve out a significant role immediately--especially in the passing game, where his matchup skills against linebackers could be a weapon on third down.
The Full Rookie Number Reveal
While Love's number is the headliner, the entire rookie class received their assignments Thursday. Here's a look at the key newcomers and their new digits:
Walter Nolen III, DT -- No. 97
The Cardinals' top defensive draft choice from the 2025 class--a dominant interior defensive lineman out of Ole Miss--will continue to wear No. 97. Nolen is the kind of disruptive force that defensive coordinator Nick Rallis can build around. Paired with Roy Lopez (No. 51) and Andrew Billings (No. 95), Nolen gives the Cardinals a youthful jolt on the interior. His ability to penetrate and command double teams will be crucial for freeing up edge rushers like Josh Sweat (No. 10) and Zaven Collins (No. 25).
Damonic Williams, DT -- No. 98
The rookie from LSU, signed as an undrafted free agent, will line up next to Nolen, giving the Cardinals a formidable young interior tandem. Williams gets No. 98.
Carson Beck, QB -- No. 11
The former Georgia quarterback, a 2026 third-round draft pick who has the arm talent and collegiate pedigree to develop into a long-term option, took No. 11. He joins a quarterback room led by veterans Jacoby Brissett (No. 7) and Gardner Minshew II (No. 15), with Kedon Slovis (No. 19) also in the mix. Beck's development will be one of the more quietly fascinating storylines of the offseason.
Reggie Virgil, WR -- No. 88
The speedster from Miami who can stretch the field vertically was assigned No. 88. In a wide receiver corps headlined by Marvin Harrison Jr. (No. 18) and Michael Wilson (No. 14), Virgil's deep speed could earn him a role as a situational burner while he refines the rest of his game.
Harrison Wallace III, WR -- No. 13
Another wideout added to the mix, Wallace III from Ole Miss grabbed No. 13. The Cardinals are clearly stockpiling pass-catching options as Hackett looks to build a versatile, explosive offense.
Jameson Geers, TE -- No. 48
The tight end out of Colorado gets No. 48. He'll compete with a depth chart led by Trey McBride (No. 85) and Elijah Higgins (No. 84) for a reserve role.
Kaleb Proctor, DT -- No. 64
The undrafted free agent from UConn will wear No. 64 as he battles for a spot on the interior defensive line.
Jayden Williams, OT -- No. 61
The offensive tackle out of Colorado State takes No. 61. With Paris Johnson Jr. (No. 70) entrenched at left tackle and right tackle still a competition between veterans like Christian Jones (No. 75) and Matt Pryor (No. 76), Williams will have an uphill climb but could develop on the practice squad.
Ka'ena Decambra, G -- No. 62
The guard from Pitt picked up No. 62. With Isaiah Adams (No. 74) and Jon Gaines II (No. 71) competing for starting guard spots alongside veteran Isaac Seumalo (No. 73), Decambra adds depth and competition.
Chase Bisontis, G -- No. 63
The versatile offensive lineman from Texas A&M gets No. 63. Like Decambra, Bisontis gives the Cardinals young, developmental depth on the interior.
What the Numbers Tell Us
Jersey numbers, of course, don't win games. But they do offer subtle clues about a player's position group, seniority, and sometimes even the team's plans for them.
Love taking No. 31--a classic running back number--signals he's viewed as a traditional multi-down back rather than a gadget or specialty player. That aligns with his collegiate usage at Notre Dame, where he excelled between the tackles and on wheel routes.
Nolen wearing No. 97, a number typically worn by interior linemen with pass-rushing juice (think Ndamukong Suh or Geno Atkins), suggests the Cardinals see him as a three-technique disruptor rather than a pure nose tackle. That's significant because it means they're counting on him to create pressure from the interior--a premium skill in today's NFL.
Beck wearing No. 11, a number more associated with wide receivers and quarterbacks who have a bit of swagger, is interesting for a player who profiles as a cerebral pocket passer. It might just be a nod to his Georgia roots, but it adds personality to the room.
A Rookie Class with Serious Ambition
The Cardinals entered the 2026 NFL Draft with a clear mandate: add difference-makers on both sides of the ball to a roster that finished above .500 in 2025 but wasn't quite ready to challenge the 49ers for the division crown. Ossenfort and his staff identified key needs, and this rookie class--now united by rookie minicamp and official jersey numbers--represents the next step in the rebuild.
Love, Nolen, and Beck headline a group that will be expected to contribute early. Love likely slots in as the third-down back from Day 1. Nolen should rotate into the defensive line rotation immediately. Beck, while likely third on the depth chart behind Brissett and Minshew, gives the Cardinals a developmental quarterback who can sit, learn, and potentially challenge for the job in 2027.
What's Next
With rookie minicamp underway, the focus now shifts to organized team activities (OTAs) and training camp. For the rookies, the jersey number is just the beginning. The real work--learning the playbook, building chemistry with teammates, proving they belong--starts now.
For Love, that means showing he can handle pass protection at the NFL level. For Nolen, it's demonstrating that his dominant college tape translates against grown men in the trenches. For Beck, it's absorbing Hackett's offense and competing in practice.
Thursday was about symbolism. Starting Friday, it's about substance.
The numbers are on the backs. Now it's time to see what the players wearing them can do.