With the first few waves of free agency in the rear view, the Cardinals are in the midst of their annual draft prep. GM Steve Keim will lay the groundwork to bring in a new class of rookies to supplement the roster already built and forge a direction upon which a few more free agents are likely to be signed.
Here is the next position group breakdown.
Draft primer: Offensive Line
Players under contract: D.J. Humphries, Rodney Hudson, Justin Pugh, Justin Murray, Kelvin Beachum, Josh Jones, Sean Harlow, Joshua Miles, Eric Smith, Danny Isidora, Marcus Henry, Koda Martin.
Need: High
The Cardinals' situation: The Cardinals have their starters all but set heading into the draft. Rodney Hudson, D.J. Humphries, Justin Pugh and Kelvin Beachum will return in 2022. The biggest question mark has been at right guard, a position at which Justin Murray and Josh Jones split time last season. Will Hernandez, who signed this offseason as a free agent, likely takes the role this year.
The draft class: Mississippi State's Charles Cross, North Carolina State's Ikem Ekwonu and Alabama's Evan Neal are among the top tackles in the draft. It's expected to see the trio taken in the first-round round. Central Michigan's Bernhard Raimann and Northern Iowa's Trevor Penning could emerge as options for the Cardinals at No. 23 if they are available. Boston College's Zion Johnson and Texas A&M's Kenyon Green, two interior linemen that have been linked to the Cardinals as potential destinations, headline the guard position.
The conclusion: The Cardinals might have bigger immediate needs early in the draft but it would be foolish to rule out the possibility of selecting an offensive lineman. Even if the upcoming rookie didn't play much, it never hurts to have extra depth and a younger piece to develop for the future, especially with four of the five starters entering the last year of their contract. It'd be hard to believe the Cards won't grab a lineman at some point over the draft's three days.
Images of the top offensive lineman prospects heading into the draft.
Boston College offensive lineman Zion Johnson (77) prepares to block during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
FILE - Texas A&M offensive lineman Kenyon Green (55) lines up against Auburn during the second half of an NCAA college football game Nov. 6, 2021, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, file)
American Team offensive lineman Dylan Parham of Memphis (56) snaps the ball in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Tennessee-Chattanooga offensive lineman Cole Strange runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Oklahoma offensive lineman Marquis Hayes (54) walks onto the field during the Cotton Bowl NCAA college football game in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
North Carolina offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu runs through a drill for NFL scouts during Pro Day, Monday, March 28, 2022, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Louisiana St offensive lineman Ed Ingram (21) walks on the field at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Virginia Tech's Lecitus Smith #54 is seen pre-game against West Virginia during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Morgantown,W. Va. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Ohio State offensive lineman Thayer Munford plays against Purdue during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Justin Shaffer runs football drills during Georgia's Pro Day on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Mississippi offensive lineman Ben Brown reacts during the second half of an NCAA college football game against LSU in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. No. 1 LSU won 58-37. (AP Photo/Thomas Graning)
Mississippi State offensive lineman Charles Cross speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
North Carolina State's Ikem Ekwonu (79) prepares for the snap against Clemson during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
Alabama offensive lineman Evan Neal (73) reacts after a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Florida, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Central Michigan offensive lineman Bernhard Raimann plays during an NCAA college football game against Eastern Michigan, Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, in Mount Pleasant, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Northern Iowa offensive lineman Trevor Penning (70) warms up before an NCAA college football game against Southern Illinois, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Cedar Falls, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Washington State offensive lineman Abraham Lucas (72) looks on during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Utah Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Central Michigan offensive lineman Luke Goedeke speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Wake Forest offensive lineman Zach Tom (50) defends against Army during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in West Point, N.Y. Wake Forest won 70-56. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Jamaree Salyer runs football drills during Georgia's Pro Day on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Arizona State offensive lineman Kellen Diesch (74) in the first half during an NCAA football game against Colorado on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Kentucky offensive tackle Darian Kinnard (70) is shown during warm ups before an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt on Saturday, Nov.13, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Louisiana-Lafayette offensive lineman Max Mitchell speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Southern Utah offensive lineman Braxton Jones (23) participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst congratulates Logan Bruss after a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Purdue Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
