Now that the Cardinals offseason work has concluded, the players are out of the facility. Many have stated that these next few weeks aren't time off from football, but time away from the facility, hoping players remain locked in and prepared to report to Glendale for training camp on July 23. In the meantime, azcardinals.com will take a look and evaluate each position group prior to camp.
Next up, the offensive line.
LOCKS: Paris Johnson Jr., Evan Brown, Hjalte Froholdt, Will Hernandez, Jonah Williams, Isaiah Adams, Christian Jones, Kelvin Beachum
Hjalte Froholdt was one of the pleasant surprises for the Cardinals last season. Having to snap to three different quarterbacks isn't easy for a player who only had six starts at the position before 2023. However, Froholdt was a staple on the offensive line and had received plenty of praise from his teammates throughout the season. The player to his right, Will Hernandez, also stepped up plenty throughout the year.
Evan Brown has spent the offseason competing for a starting role on the line, primarily at left guard. Brown has garnered public respect from his peers.
Jonathan Gannon announced that Paris Johnson Jr. would start the season at left tackle with free agency addition, Jonah Williams, bookending the other side of the line. It's a move that appeared imminent once the Cardinals selected Johnson with the sixth pick in last year's draft. The injury to D.J. Humphries and Williams' solid season at right tackle in Cincinnati sped up the process.
This past April, the Cardinals drafted Isaiah Adams and Christian Jones in the third and fifth rounds respectively. They'll both be fighting to see some snaps on game days, but their position in the draft leans them toward the lock category for the 2024 campaign. Veteran Kelvin Beachum jumped in at left tackle in two of the Cardinals' four victories.
WORK TO DO: Jon Gaines II, Elijah Wilkinson, Trystan Colon, Carter O'Donnell, Keith Ismael, Jackson Barton, Dennis Daley, Marquis Hayes, Austen Pleasants
The Cardinals had ten offensive linemen on the Week 1 roster last year. Elijah Wilkinson, Trystan Colon, and Carter O'Donnell all saw reps at left guard. Each has a case to crack the Week 1 roster again in 2024. A wild card is Jon Gaines II. Gaines landed on injured reserve after hurting his knee in the preseason finale. How healthy he is despite a full year of rehab will be worth watching throughout training camp.
UPGRADE ODDS: Low
With 17 offensive linemen currently on the roster, especially after an offseason that proved it was an area of emphasis for general manager Monti Ossenfort, the Cardinals seem confident with the players already in the room. Plus, the unit was also responsible for helping James Connor achieve his first career 1,000-yard season.
