DENVER -- The Cardinals are still looking for their top backup offensive tackle, but Korey Cunningham is no longer an option.
Cunningham, who came into the offseason as the top option as swing tackle, was officially traded Thursday to the New England Patriots for a 2020 sixth-round pick. The deal is pending Cunningham's passing a physical. The move is a slight surprise, but it underscores the realistic possibility the Cardinals will be seeking a tackle on the waiver wire following roster cuts this weekend.
The Cardinals will have first choice of every waived player.
Heading into Thursday night's preseason finale against the Broncos, the top reserve tackles are seventh-round rookie Joshua Miles and Rees Odhiambo. The Cardinals also have Parker Ehinger, Patrick Lawrence and William Sweet. Coach Kliff Kingsbury has acknowledged it is one of the positions under scrutiny in the game.
The Cardinals and Patriots have made a trade involving an offensive lineman in the recent past. In 2016, the Cards dealt guard Jonathan Cooper and a second-round pick for linebacker Chandler Jones.
Cunningham was a seventh-round pick from a season ago and ended up starting six games in 2018 for an injury-riddled line on both the left and right side before suffering a season-ending foot injury.
None of the starters are expected to play against the Broncos, including tackles D.J. Humphries and Marcus Gilbert.