Have Cardinals Been Under-Investing on the Offensive Line?
photo credit: @azcardinals.com
By Walter Mitchell
Then, I thought, what about the entire offensive line?
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It’s gonna be the definition of irony if the Cardinals finally invest in the IOL after moving off Kyler. How you never invested the capital to get an elite IOL while he’s been here is just malpractice.
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Let's break it down:
Draft Capital the Past 11 Years:
2015 - T D.J. Humphries - R1
2016 - C Evan Boehm - R4; T Cole Toner - R6
2017 - G Dorian Johnson - R4; T Will Holden - R5
2018 - C Mason Cole - R3; T Corey Cunninghams - R7
2019 - C Lamont Gaillard - R6; T Joshua Miles - R7
2020 - T Josh Jones - R3
2021 - C Michal Menet - R7
2022 - G Lecitus Smith - R6; G Marquis Hayes - R7
2023 - T Paris Johnson Jr. - R1; G Jon Gaines II - R4
2024 - G Isaiah Adams - R3; T Christian Jones - R5
2025 - G Hayden Conner - R6
In 3 years under Monti the Cardinals have invested 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th round picks on offensive linemen.
Free Agent Contracts and Trade Acquisitions the last 10 years:
T D.J. Humphries; Kelvin Beachum, Jonah Williams
G Justin Pugh, Will Hernandez, Evan Brown
C A.Q. Shipley, Rodney Hudson, Hjalte Froholdt
Notable Contracts:
March 2018 --- Justin Pugh signs 5 year $45M free agent contract
March 2021 --- In trade for Rodney Hudson, Cardinals pay him in excess of $15M on the remaining 2 years of his contract (he only played in 16 games, 12 in 2021 and 4 in 2022)
March 2022 --- Will Hernandez signs 1 year $1.2M free agent contract
August 2022 --- D.J, Humphries signs 3 year $68M contract extension
March 2023 --- Will Hernandez signs 2 year $9M contract extension
March 2023 --- Hjalte Froholdt signs 1 year $2.7M contract
March 2023 - Evan Brown signs 1 year $3.2M contract
March 2023 --- Tristan Colon signs for 1 year $1.5M contract
March 2024 --- Jonah Williams signs 2 year $30M contract
March 2024 --- Tristan Colon signs 1 year $2.0M contract
August 2024 --- Hjalte Froholdt signs 2 year $12M contract extension
March 2025 --- Evan brown signs 2 year $11.5M contract extension
August 2025 --- Will Hernadez signs 1 year $2.17M contract
Kelvin Beachum deserves his own "hometown bargain" category:
Cap Hits
* 2020 --- $890K
* 2021 --- $1.6M
* 2022 --- $2.4M
* 2023 --- $$2.1M
* 2024 --- $2.6M
* 2025 --- $4.0M
Beach's average PFF grade for the 3 years he started: 66.7
When one looks at the money and numerous extensions that the Cardinals have given to their offensive lineman, the team's commitment to the unit is commendable.
What not always has been the case. is the coaching. Save, most of all, for Klayton Adams.
The Klayton Adams Effect
One can argue that the Cardinals' offensive line in 2024 had the best year of any Cardinals' OL since they moved to Arizona.
2024 NFL Cardinals' Rankings on Offense:
* OFF --- 7
* PASS --- 8
* PBLK - 4
* RUN - 9
* RBLK - 14
Next closest OL-wise was in 2015
* OFF --- 2
* PASS --- 4
* PBLK --- 27
* RUN --- 24
* RBLK --- 3
2024 was a banner year for the Cardinals' individual offensive line grades:
* Paris Johnson Jr. --- 80.8 ---- 2025 grade to date: 80.1
* Hjalte Froholdt --- 76.1 --- 2025 grade to date: 68.4
* Tristan Colon --- 71.0 --- 2025 --- now playing on DET
* Jonah Williams --- 70.7 --- 2025 grade to date: 55.7
* Will Hernandez --- 69.3 --- 2025 grade to date: 36.7
* Evan Brown --- 65.9 --- 2025 grade to date: 58.5
* Kelvin Beachum --- 64.1 --- 2025 grade to date: 48.7
* Isaiah Adams --- 58.4 --- 2025 grade to date: 44.0
Why have the players' grades fallen so precipitously from last year to this year's?
The Cardinals declined to give Klayton Adams a promotion and handsome raise in favor of hiring Ohio St. offensive line coach Justin Frye. While the player continuity on the roster from 2024 to 2025 was virtually 100%, the position group coaching continuity was 0%. For the vast majority of coaches who make the leap from the college ranks to the NFL, the learning curve is steep, especially for coaches who are succeeding popular coaches who leave big shoes to fill.
Major Dropoff:
2024 Cardinals' Rankings on Offense Compared to 2025 season after 7 games:
* OFF --- 7 --- Current 2025 ranking --- 22
* PASS --- 8
--- Current 2025 ranking --- 12* PBLK - 4
--- Current 2025 ranking --- 23* RUN - 9
--- Current 2025 ranking ---27* RBLK - 14
--- Current 2025 ranking --- 27
Cowboys' 2025 Offensive Line to Date:
* OFF --- 6
* PASS --- 3
* PBLK --- 28
* RUN --- 17
* RBLK --- 9
Cardinals' coaches when asked about whether the team misses Klayton Adams or what Adams brings to the table as an offensive line coach:
Jonathan Gannon --- "a little bit, he was in our building for two years..."
Translation --- this answer from Gannon is about as impersonal a way as there is to speak about the coach who was by some people's standards the most successful coach in that building for two years.
Click here:
Drew Petzing (from several weeks ago)--- "no."
Translation: Petzing's not going to throw Justin Frye under the bus. It's all water under the bridge at this point.
Nick Rallis ---"from a schematic standpoint it's not just (Adams') creativity but there is intention to what they do in the run game and how they are trying to either capture you or create movement."
Translation: Rallis not only gets it; he articulates the challenge of opposing Adams' offensive line about as specifically as it gets and with the fair amount of respect.
Click here:
Back to the original question:(thanks to @KSzn2021)
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It’s gonna be the definition of irony if the Cardinals finally invest in the IOL after moving off Kyler. How you never invested the capital to get an elite IOL while he’s been here is just malpractice.
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As for the interior offensive line ---
Hjalte Froholdt has been arguably Monti best free agent signing. He's now one of the top centers in the NFC and this year was elected a team captain by his teammates.
Will Hernandez was re-signed and, understandably following his ACL rehab, is trying to regain what appeared to be a Pro Bowl level of excellence that he was displaying last season until his unfortunate injury.
Evan Brown is strong at the point of attack and manifests an impressive work ethic and leadership abilities.
It's a rare occurrence when all three of a team's LG-C-RG interior are absolute studs.
Isaiah Adams as a 3rd round investment, with stronger coaching, in light of his physical gifts, could still develop into a good NFL guard.
Jon Gaines II has been a solid swing C/G who imo has the talent to be a solid NFL guard or center.
Too bad that Hayden Conner was lost for the season --- he was playing very aggressively in training camp and appeared to be progressing very well at both center and guard.
The irony is that of the 4 NFC West teams, the Cardinals have invested more money in their interior line than the 49ers and Seahawks. Only the Rams, because of Kevinn Dotson's $18M 2025 cap hit have invested more.
NFC West IOL 2025 Cap Hits: (Top 4 IOL salaries)
ARI
E. Brown --- $4.1
H. Froholdt --- $4.1
W. Hernandez --- $1.6
I. Adams --- $1.4
TOTAL: $12.1M
LAR
K. Dotson --- $18.0M
C. Shelton --- $4.5
S. Avila --- $2.5M
B. Limmer --- $1.0M
TOTAL: $26M
SF
J. Brendal --- $5.0M
S. Bradford --- $2.9M
D. Puni --- $1.3M
B. Bartch --- $1.2M
TOTAL: $10.4M
SEA
G, Zabel --- $3.4M
A. Bradford --- $1.2M
C. Haynes --- $1.4M
J. Sundell --- $1.0M
TOTAL: $7.0M
NFC West 2-25 Offensive Interior Cap Hit Totals:
LAR --- $26M
ARI --- $12.1M
SF --- $10.4M
SEA --- $7.0M
While we're at it, let's go ahead and total the 2025 cap investments on the teams' top 3 offensive tackles.
ARI
J. Williams --- $16.0
P. Johnson Jr. --- $7.7M
K. Beachum --- $4.0M
TOTAL: $27.7M
LAR
R. Havenstein --- $11.4M
A. Jackson --- $7.0M
D.J. Humphries --- $2.4M
TOTAL: $20.8M
SF
T. Williams ---- $21.1M
C. McKivitz --- $4.4M
A. Pleasants --- $1.0M
TOTAL: $27.5M
SEA
C. Cross --- $6.8M
L. Abraham --- $4.4M
J. Jones --- $4.0M
TOTAL: $15.2M
NFC West 2025 Offensive Tackles Cap Hit Totals:
ARI --- $27.7M
SF --- $27.5M
LAR --- $20.8M
SEA --- $15.2M
NFC West 2025 Offensive Line Top 7 Salary Cap Hit Totals:
LAR --- $46.8M
ARI --- $39.8M
SF --- $38.9M
SEA --- $22.2M
Conclusion:
The Cardinals have been making a strong effort to invest both draft capital and free agent contracts into building of their offensive line, both in the interior and at the tackles.
In 2023, despite the Cardinals returning D.J. Humphries, Kelvin Beachum and Josh Jones (all of whom were in the 2022 team's top 5 highest grades on offense with Jones at 75.8 in 13 games, Humphries at 72.3 in 8 games and Beachum at 70.6 in 17 games) Kyler Murray was afforded the opportunity to scout Paris Johnson Jr. to be his new right tackle --- at the expense of the team passing on ED Will Anderson Jr. for a defense whose #1 need was an edge pass rusher.
Kyler is one of the most difficult QBs for an offensive lineman to block for. The main reason is, with Kyler at QB, there is no traditional pass pocket because Kyler rarely if ever steps up into it and --- more often than not he tries to escape pressure by running backward, which for the tackles is especially discouraging, seeing as they are trying to steer the edge rushers wide of a pocket which gets completely abandoned when Kyler runs backward. In that scenario the edge rushers have a clear and distinct chase down advantage, unless the tackles try to get away with holding.
This season it seems like in passing situations the coaches are sending the running back out of the backfield more than usual. This tends to speed up Kyler Murray's clock and is one of the reasons why he is quick to throw check downs. This predictable occurrence is compounded by the fact that when the running backs remain in the backfield, they are not doing a good enough job this year of picking up the blitzes in pass protection.
2025 Pass Blocking Grades To Date from Cardinals' RBs:
Benson --- 57.0
Demercado --- 52.4
Carter --- 42.7
Conner --- 29.2
Knight --- 27.6
Running backs who take the romance out of the B gap blitz are supposed to be the IOL's and QB's best friend.
2025 Pass Blocking and Run Blocking grades from Cardinals' TEs:
McBride --- 70.5 --- 63.4
Higgins --- 60.4--- 57.5
Reiman --- 45.7 --- 60.5
Needs improvement in both areas.
As for the interior of the Cardinals' offensive line:
C Hjalte Froholdt
G Will Hernandez
G Evan Brown
G Isaiah Adams
C/G Jon Gaines II
What the Cardinals need is for the veterans to take command of the unit and get these stalwarts into the same mindset as what it was with Klayton Adams in 2024.
They've got in in them.
We've seen it before.
The falloff of the O-line from Adams to Frye is definitely noticeable. So too is the failings of Kyler Murray. Some of the Kyler fans keep persisting that Kyler has no fault it always a blame game...first it was all KK fault, then the O-line fault, then the Defense sucks, then WR cant get open, then DP, now again with O-line... Kyler is a problem, we can accept his faults, but given his contract he has not lived up to expectation for such a large contract and draft selection. Kyler has failed to improve 'his game' failed to improve decision making, and has become elite at check-downs (I feel that is DP coaching). He almost always makes one play a game (turnover) at most inopportune time, he has improved on trying to escape backward taking sacks for 10+ yards, to attempting to run lateral and sometimes forward (Kudos). At this point in Kylers career I do not believe he will ever be an elite QB as we contracted. He can be a mid-level QB but his next injury may be his retirement. Another large contract is out-of-the-question. So in my opinion his days wearing Cardinals jersey are also limited. Question is do we draft another QB (rd 1) next year or do we we take a RT or ED in RD 1. (this season is over, looking toward building roster for long-term success). I think I'm more of opinion we should be going ED in Rd 1, then RT in R2. Sign a FA QB reclamation project to fill in for a year whilst keeping Brissett. Its not as if Kyler is going to draw a lot of interest as trade either. I just hate having to keep and pay him another year.
ReplyDeleteGreat post with lots of facts that can summed up as poor coaching. Sloppiness, poor execution and questionable play design. It's also called regression. If the players aren’t executing, then eventually it is a scheme problem.
ReplyDeleteFor example-Last season, the Cardinals were the best screen passing team in the league, averaging 8.3 yards per attempt. This season, they’ve been the worst, averaging 3.6 yards per attempt.
Petzing gotta go
Excellent article. KM is a difficult QB for an OL to block for. If JB would have started the season, I wonder if there would have been less injuries on offense. When your QB is struggling to gain chunk yard plays in the air, your RBs have to take up the slack.
ReplyDeleteGood deep dive Walter. What' really jumps off the page is the lack of development of the guys we draft for the offensive line. In the last 5 years it looks like we really hit on only one Paris Johnson. Everybody else has had little impact on tge starting offensive line. Gaines is a gadget goal line player. Christian Jones might not even make the roster next year. Conner is to be determined. Maybe when we are putting together next coaching staff one of the first first questions better be who is your offensive line coach. Maybe we take a shot at getting Klayton back.
ReplyDeleteIts an area that is just as critical as head coach.
Today 11/1 9:39am, Cards released statement that Murray's foot is not ready and Brissett will start against the Cowboys. So much for a defining Murray win to keep his Cards' career afloat. Hopefully, JB wins this game single handedly, and he just might have to, and the pressure on Murray and this staff keeps building to make a permanent change at QB. Will a be very hard to keep the locker room engaged when they don't play the player giving them the best chance to actually win a few games.
ReplyDelete