Asked about the three-safety package the Cardinals like to employ on defense, Jonathan Gannon said there are multiple reasons why.

A major one? "To get Rabbit on the field."

For Rabbit – Dadrion Taylor-Demerson on his legal ID – that means something. The Cardinals already have multi-time Pro Bowler Budda Baker and talented veteran Jalen Thompson manning the safety roles. To be included in the trio leaves an imprint, especially on a guy who marveled at the brief meeting he had with Baker when he came in for a pre-draft visit back in 2024.

"It's nice to have the people that bring you in to believe in you as much as I believe in myself," Taylor-Demerson said. "I'm just doing my job."

If Baker and Thompson weren't both on the roster, the job would be different. It wouldn't just be as part of a package. It wouldn't have as heavy of a special teams load.

But defensive coordinator Nick Rallis loves his defensive backs. He loves Baker, and Thompson and Garrett Williams, because of all the things each can do on a given down. When the Cardinals look at their Rabbit, they see something similar.

"When you look at who can impact the game," Gannon said, "Rabbit is in that conversation."

Taylor-Demerson showed his multiple talents in the preseason opener against the Chiefs, picking up a quarterback hit on one blitz and showing his speed and range on another by ranging far across the field to tackle a tight end after the catch.

Last season, he played 258 defensive snaps, about 24 percent of the time. That number is expected to grow at least some, although Taylor-Demerson shrugs over his expectations.

"Growing up, my life was always about being patient and waiting for opportunity," he said. "Last year I got an opportunity. I wouldn't say I struck gold with it, but I held my own. That just gives me confidence. I do believe I am a really good player."

He revels in sitting in a position room with Baker and Thompson, soaking in knowledge, still in amazement he ended up on their team. His time there, listening to the two of them chat football, remains his favorite part of ending up in Arizona.

"Rabbit used to be a rabbit, just all over the place at times," Baker said. "But he's done a great job of understanding both positions. … He has that high motor to make those tackles or make interceptions. He's only going to get better."

Taylor-Demerson is smart enough to handle his defensive packages and his special teams work, and knows that crucial defensive snaps could come at any time – or, game to game, not much at all. That's the job, he said.

"At some point, it's going to be my turn," Taylor-Demerson said. "I have to be ready."

The big-picture future is also TBD. Thompson is entering the final year of his contract, although the veteran said on the "Big Red Rage" that he was not thinking about "the money side" of his job. Thompson added he was focused on the season and "becoming an evolved player."

Maybe things change and with it, Rabbit's assignment. Maybe Thompson stays and the three-safety look remains a Cardinals' staple.

"Whatever my role is, whatever my snap count is, it doesn't matter to me," Taylor-Demerson said. "I'm living my dream."