Rebuilding O-line becomes priority
It’s D-day for the rebuilding Arizona Cardinals and their desperate situation on the O-line.
The “D” stands for decisions, and on the dawn of the beginning of free agency frenzy General Manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon have a ton of them to make. Many of them concern refortifying the offensive line and finding the right combination of starters and backups up front.
Presently, only one regular starter is under contract — left tackle D.J. Humphries, a nine-year pro. Everybody else, save for a couple part-time starters and a few reserves, are set to become unrestricted free agents when the NFL’s new league year begins on Wednesday with the official start of the free agency signing period.
Teams can begin negotiating with free agents and their representatives on Monday, however, and for months, long before they hired a new GM and head coach, the Cardinals have known they must determine who will start at center, both guard positions and at right tackle.
Considering whatever pieces the team adds up front will be responsible for protecting the franchise’s $230.5 million investment in quarterback Kyler Murray, once he’s able to return from a torn ACL in his right knee, that’s no easy task.
Surely, there must be some anxious feelings amongst the offensive coaching staff.
“I wouldn’t necessarily say anxious; I would say excited about whatever those pieces end up being that we have the opportunity to just deeply evaluate,” new offensive line coach Klayton Adams said last week. “Whether it ends up being resigning guys, free agency, the draft, just a deep evaluation of where do we want to go and what are the right pieces to help us get there, and also the right type of people.”
On that specific topic, the Cardinals have some actual clarity on the type of offensive linemen they say they intend to bring to Arizona.
“We have a skill set that we’re looking for from the inside guys and the outside guys and I know this, we want high football-character guys that love to play football and they’re going to be tough guys,” Gannon said. “We want guys that finish people, move people and probably the No.1 job is … you better keep that quarterback upright.”
However it shakes out, it’s clear the O-line will once again be anchored by Humphries, and between Gannon, Adams and just about every other coach on the offensive staff, the team is in agreement he can be the glue that makes everything stick.
“Absolutely,” Gannon said. “I have a very high opinion of D.J. I know Klayton and (assistant offensive line coach) Chris (Cook) are ready to work with him. He’s been a really good player for a long time. I’ve had to go against him a couple different times and he’s a tough matchup for outside edge rushers in the pass and run game.
“He’s got phenomenal football character. And he’s a guy I’ve already leaned on since I’ve been in the job to gain some information and pick his brain a little bit and he’s been great with me. So, I’m excited he’s on the Arizona Cardinals.”
So is Humphries, who agreed to restructure his contract to clear $5.3 million in salary cap space. But who is going to surround him to help keep the offense afloat during this obvious rebuilding period?
Veteran center Rodney Hudson has long been expected to retire. Veteran guards Justin Pugh and Will Hernandez are set to become unrestricted free agents and Pugh, who also is recovering from a torn ACL, has already contemplated retirement and said he doesn’t want to be part of a rebuild. Veteran right tackle Kelvin Beachum is an impending UFA, too, although he has indicated he would like to play for at least another few seasons.
“I have no insight into where I’m going to stop,” Beachum, 33, said last week during an appearance on the NFL Network. “If I can play three or four more years, that would feel really good. … If I could play four or five more years, it would be a blessing.”
Billy Price took over at center once Hudson went down with a troublesome knee injury after the first four weeks of last season, but Price is also hitting unrestricted free agency and it isn’t known whether the Cardinals want him back or not.
Another possibility is 11-year pro Ben Jones, who was released by the Titans on Friday after spending the past seven seasons there. Ossenfort spent the past three years in Nashville as Tennessee’s director of pro personnel and he knows how much Jones, 33, meant to the franchise. Other options include Ethan Pocic, 27, (Browns), Garrett Bradbury, 27, (Vikings), Justin Britt, 31, (Texans) and Connor McGovern, 29 (Jets).
If Arizona looks for its next center in next month’s draft, prospects to watch include Joe Tippmann (Wisconsin), John Michael Schmitz (Minnesota), Olusegun Oluwatimi (Michigan), Jarrett Patterson (Notre Dame) and Steve Avila (TCU).
Whichever route they choose, finding the right center will be the key to the entire rebuild along the line and offensive coordinator Drew Petzing agrees with that philosophy. The center must have high intellect, the ability to lead and all the necessary physical components.
“Yeah, and I would argue that we’re going to ask that of all five of those guys,” Petzing said. “You’ve got to be able to think. You’ve got to be able to process. You’ve got to be able to react on the fly. Certainly the center, by nature of the fact that he has one other job prior to getting everything going (identifying blitz packages and certain key defenders to pick up), but other than that, that’s going to be something that’s really important for all five of those guys and really, all 11 of those guys (on offense).”
At right tackle, Arizona can rely on Josh Jones, who has proven to be a versatile player through his first three NFL seasons. He seems ready for a full-time starting role, even though bringing back Beachum makes a lot of sense considering he was the only lineman to start all 17 games last season.
That leaves both guard positions, and the Cardinals must act swiftly in finding not only their next two starters there, but depth players to back them up. Hernandez should be re-signed, as should Cody Ford, whom the team acquired in a trade from the Bills. It’s probably unlikely that Pugh will return.
Potential free agent additions Arizona might consider include Nate Davis, 26, (Titans), Dalton Risner, 27, (Broncos) and Isaac Seumalo, 29, (Eagles). Draft prospects at guard that could be potential targets are O’Cyrus Torrence (Florida), Cody Mauch (North Dakota State), Emil Ekiyor Jr. (Alabama), Jaxson Kirkland (Washington), Braeden Daniels (Utah) and Nick Broeker (Ole Miss).
“This game starts up front on both sides of the ball,” Petzing said. “It’s going to be an emphasis for us. No matter who’s in those five spots, it’s going to be about getting guys who are big, tough, athletic, play with a high motor. You heard Jonathan say high football character guys, guys that love the job. … We want guys who are about the team, that want to do their job at a high level and take a lot of pride in doing it.
“I think those guys are out there. They’re here in the building, too, and I can’t wait to get to work with them.”