Could Josh Fryar be the Cardinals' version of the Rams' Warren McClendon Jr.?
By Walter Mitchell
The Rams drafted Georgia tackle Warren McClendon Jr. in the 5th round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Kudos to Sean McVay and his coaches for how they develop their draft picks. McClendon is a special case. When perennial star RT Rob Havenstein was lost for the season, McClendon stepped in and absolutely shined.
Games started: 13 (included 3 playoff games)
Overall grade: 78.7 --- Pass Blocking: 69.1 --- Run Blocking: 81.9
Sacks: 2 --- 3 QB hits --- 23 QB pressures --- 1 penalty --- 97.5 PBLK EFF
Warren McClendon's pass blocking efficiency of 97.5 was #1 in the NFC West and #14 in the NFL (for tackles with more than 10 starts).
Charles Cross's #2 best in NFC West was 97.1 and #23 overall.
Paris Johnson Jr.'s 96.3 was #7 in NFC West and #41 overall.
Warren McClendon's 81.8 run blocking grade was #5 in NFC West and #13 in the NFL.
NFC West Run Blocking Tackles:
92.0 Trent Williams - #2
90.4 Colton McKivitz - #4
86.1 Alaric Jackson - #5
84.1 Abraham Lucas - #10
81.9 Warren McClendon Jr. - #13
72.9 Paris Johnson Jr. - #25
While Josh Fryar was not drafted, both he and Warren McClendon were 1st Team Big 10 and SEC All-Stars at Ohio St. and Georgia.
In Josh Fryar's final season, he helped lead Ohio St. to its National Championship by being one of the only starters on the injury-plagued offensive line to start every game. And at RT, Josh Fryar, whose reputation as being one of the nastiest run blockers in the Big Ten, only gave up 1 sack all season and gave up no sacks during the team's 3-game stretch of playoff wins.
As for Josh Fryar's rookie year in the NFL, no question it was a huge challenge for Josh Fryar to start in the place of Paris Johnson Jr. at left tackle and at times for Jonah Williams at right tackle. I thought he played better than one might expect at LT, given that he is much more of a prototypical RT. But having to come into the NFL as a rookie and right away be tasked with starting games at both tackle spots was a daunting and yet he handled it about as well as one could expect.
Plus, Josh Fryar had a strong hand in helping Jacoby Brissett, Trey McBride, Michael Wilson and the entire offense emerge as the NFL's #7 best team in passing yards and #9 best team in 3rd down conversion percentage.
Josh Frye's best grades at RT and LT in 2025:
Overall:
RT - 65.8 vs SF
LT - 67.5 vs ATL
Pass Blocking:
RT - 74.7 vs JAX
LT - 89.1 vs HST
Run Blocking:
RT: 77.8 vs SF
LT: 70.4 vs ATL
Josh Fryar in 9 games gave up 4 sacks, 3 QB hits, 17 QB pressures and 4 penalties with a 94.2 pass blocking efficiency grade, mostly at LT.
These best grades (posted above) suggest how capable Josh Fryar is --- the question, as it is for any NFL offensive lineman, is whether he can grade well consistently. His season grades were in the mid 50s, just as McClendon's were when he was a rookie. Same for Colin McKivitz. Same for Abraham Lucas in his second year.
How does Josh Fryar match up physically with Warren McClendon Jr.?
Warren McClendon: 6-4, 317, 34 1/2" arms, 5.26 40
Josh Fryar: 6-5, 320, 34 7/8" arms, 5.09 40
Advantage: Frye
Fun Fact: Both Warren McClendon Jr. and Josh Fryar were starting right tackles who helped their colleges win the Natty, with Georgia in 2022 and with Ohio St, in 2024 respectively.
Look at how the 49ers have developed RT Colton McKivitz, their 5th round pick in 2020. He graded 52.4 as a rookie and have kept improving every year. This year he jumped to 84.2.
Physically, Josh Fryar is one inch shorter than McKivitz, 10 pounds heavier, has longer arms and runs a faster 40 (5.06 to McKivitz's 5.35).
If the Cardinals start Josh Fryar at RT, here is what he has going for him:
1. Mike LaFleur saw first-hand how Warren McClendon Jr. actually outplayed Rob Havenstein when he had his opportunity. The Rams' coaches believe in him. And now, they are very thankful that they don't have to spend one of their Day 1 or Day 2 picks on a right tackle.
2. Knowing that Justin Frye, Paris Johnson Jr.'s and Josh Frye's offensive line coach at Ohio St., believes in Josh Fryar, Mike LaFleur could have every reason to trust in Justin Frye's confidence.
3. The Buckeye Cardinals' stamp on the organization. Captain Paris Johnson Jr. and Marvin Harrison jr. love Josh Fryar.
"I know the guy Josh Frye is, and while I know he came in undrafted, I believe the Cardinals have a star," Paris Johnson Jr. exclaimed. "Since I was in college, I always said 'whatever team Josh Fryar is going to be on, he's going to be a long-term guy because of the way he works, his mentality, the way he shows up, and the way he loves to take coaching and advice.'"
fingers crossed!
ReplyDeleteHorrible sad news-Rondale Moore dead at 25.
ReplyDeleteRondale Moore had such breathtaking talent. His epic performance as a true freshman in Purdue's upset win over Ohio St. was an awe-inspiring spectacle. It's just still so difficult to imagine why the Cardinals traded him and gave up on him after one year with the new coaching staff. His year 4 in Arizona could have been as special as his number. He was arguably the most talented WR on the roster then. And the QB they traded Rondale for did not even make the 53-man roster. Ever since the trade, Rondale seemed to be caught in the path of the tornado. His devastating knee injuries were brutal. The psychological toll of being traded and suffering back-to-back blowouts to his knees (dislocation in 2024, ACL in 2025) had to have played a critical role in his depression. So painful to think of how alone, derailed and suffocated he must have felt. I feel devastated for him and his dear family and for all of his friends and fans. This is so heartbreaking. RIP Rondale the Rocket. Thank you for dazzling the football world for three years with the Arizona Cardinals. You will always be treasured and missed.
DeleteIf Frye & Jones to develop as rotational/backup swing Tackle(s) that would be enough if we can get a starting RT. That was goal for both of these players when drafted. With 17-game season its getting harder and harder to maintain a consistent/cohesive starting 5 O-Line, you need quality depth pieces to fill in for the inevitable injury.
ReplyDeleteEspecially when you have to consider the Cardinals field and practice facility conditions. Which congratulations for MB are in order - he finally is able to build a 30ac practice facility; paid for by a 217ac commercial real estate investment that basically assures Bidwill will pay nothing out-of-pocket. It never has to do with right thing or winning football.
The goal never should be to pigeonhole any player. Warren McClendon Jr. was drafted in the 5th round. The Rams didn't draft him to pigeonhole him as merely a depth player. Paris Johnson didn't pigeonhole his fellow Buckeye. He sees Josh Fryar as not only a starter but as having the potential to be a star.
DeleteI think at worst he could be our swing tackle or next Kelvin Beachum. Heard an interesting rumor Cards trade down a few spots but stay in top ten and draft Jeremiah Love. They take tackle in second round. Have to say that move would make Sunday a whole lot more entertaining.
ReplyDelete