Cardinals' Offensive Line Depth
photo by Tyler Drake Arizona Sports
By Walter Mitchell
Currently, the 2026 Arizona Cardinals' roster consists of:
* 37 players on offense
* 34 players on defense
* 4 players on special teams
Total: 75
Over 1/3 of the Cardinals' offensive players are offensive linemen, 13 of the 37 (35%).
Here they are, with their 2025 PFF grades plus their highest graded game:
LT - Paris Johnson Jr. --- 76.6 --- 78.2 GB
LT Demontrey Jacobs --- 63.7 --- 67.2 @ HOU
LT Josh Fryar --- 53.1 --- 69.2 ATL
LT Osi Udoh --- 55.0 --- 79.5 SF
LG - Isaac Seumalo --- 73.2 --- 93.4 BUF
LG -Jon Gaines II --- 60.3 --- 81.9 LAR
LG Hayden Conner --- 65.8 --- 74.3 ATL
C - Hjalte Froholdt --- 69.4 --- 79.5 @ SF
RG - Isaiah Adams --- 57.2 --- 77.1 SF
RT - Elijah Wilkinson --- 62.9 --- 74.9 @ ARI
RT Matt Pryor --- 71.5 --- 75.6 LAR
LT Valentin Senn - IR
RT Christian Jones - IR
Cardinals' Offensive Line Draft Capital:
* R1 --- Paris Johnson Jr. 2023
* R3 --- Isaiah Adams 2024
* R4 --- Jon Gaines II 2023
* R5 --- Christian Jones 2024
* R6 --- Hayden Conner 2025
* CFA - Josh Fryar 2025
* CFA --- Valentin Senn 2025
UFA Signees' Draft Selections
* R3 --- Isaac Seumalo 2016 PHI
* R6 --- Matt Pryor 2018 PHI
* R6 --- Osi Udoh 2019 MIN
*CFA --- Elijah Wilkinson 2017 DEN
Training Camp Competitions for Starting Assignments
LT1 - Paris Johnson Jr. - ✅
LG - Isaac Seumalo - ✅
C - Hjalte Froholdt - ✅
RG - Isaiah Adams, Jon Gaines II, Matt Pryor
RT - Elijah Wilkinson, Matt Pryor, Josh Fryar, Christian Jones, Osi Udoh
Prediction:
The Cardinals will keep 9 offensive linemen on the 53-man roster:
* LT Paris Johnson Jr.
* LG Isaac Seumalo
* C Hjalte Froholdt
* RG Isaiah Adams
* RT Elijah Wilkinson
* ST Josh Fryar
* SG/T Matt Pryor
* S G/C Jon Gaines II
* S C/G Hayden Conner
Practice Squad:
* LT Demontrey Jacobs
* RT Christian Jones
* ST/G Osi Udoh
Will the Cardinals draft any offensive linemen?
Given the signing of 4 veteran offensive linemen, it appears that Monti Ossenfort is planning to address other need positions on Days 1 and 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
But there are a couple of developmental offensive line prospects who might be given strong consideration on Day 3.
Travis Burke
Prospect Info
CollegeMemphisHometownClassHollywood, FLSeniorHeight6’ 9’’Weight325 lbsArm34 1/4’’Hand10 1/8’’
Prospect Grade
5.89Average backup or special-teamer70Good
Score Breakdown
Production Score
662026 Combine OT Rank: 13th
Athleticism Score *est
812026 Combine OT Rank: 11th
Total Score
702026 Combine OT Rank: 18th
Combine Results
Strengths
- Fires heavy-handed punch to fit and control run blocks.
- Gets into first contact with surprising bend for a tall tackle.
- Plays with finisher’s mindset when he gets chances to bury blocks.
- Stays sticky to blocks with vice-grip hand strength.
- Maximizes length with a firm, well-timed punch into rushers.
- Unlocks hips and turns out ankles to sit and anchor against power.
- Showed improvement in identifying end/tackle twist games in 2025.
Weaknesses
- Will struggle to reach landmarks for back-side cut-off blocks.
- Lumbering movement limits success in space and on combo climbs.
- Can be displaced by stout 4i/5-technique take-ons.
- Labors out of his stance and is late to his set-points against speed.
- Average ability to recover and redirect once his edge is compromised.
- Still overcommits and rides too deep on some end/tackle twists.
Overview
Burke is a tall tackle with plus drive-blocking talent for his body type. He uses flexible hips and ankles, along with well-placed hands, to create leverage at the point of attack. He finishes blocks with good aggression when the opportunity arises. A lack of short-area quickness limits his range as a run blocker and in pass protection. He’s scheme-dependent in the run game and will need help managing NFL edge speed, but strong hands allow for longer sustained control when he lands cleanly. There are areas of concern that might not be coachable, but Burke’s length and demeanor work in his favor.
Prospect Info
Production Score
Athleticism Score *est
Total Score
40-Yard Dash
10-Yard Split
Vertical Jump
Broad Jump
3-Cone Drill
20-Yd Shuttle
Bench Press
Overview
Morris has a rare blend of intelligence, power and movement talent, but the profile is a little too uneven. He plays with a sky-high pad level and outside hands. He’s very strong in his upper body and is relatively light on his feet as a move blocker. His broad frame can be tough to get around in protection, but his inconsistent base width could lead to leakage against athletic rushers. Playing at a lighter weight would make him quicker/more efficient and could be the key to making it in the league.
Strengths
- Freaky weight-room strength shows up on the field.
- Athletic for his size with ability to adjust in space.
- Uses size and nimble feet to climb and cover linebackers.
- Stones the rush when landing hands directly into frame.
- Uses grip strength to cinch up rushers who crowd him.
- Keeps his pads over his shoes when passing off twists.
Weaknesses
- Pops upright after snap and stays that way throughout the play.
- Use of outside hands limit ability to control and sustain.
- Inconsistent generating explosive contact at the point.
- Base narrows when mirroring the rush.
- Deadens feet on contact, allowing some leakage into gaps.
You’re probably right about Monti plan and not address the Oline in rds 1 -4 but I don’t think it’s the best long term successful strategy.
ReplyDeleteThis team loaded up with RBs to make the ground game a priority this offseason season and to help their QBs survival. But that RT side is nothing to be excited for.
I am not a fan of Adams. I would start the journeyman Pryor at RG until a 4th round G draft prospect is ready. I would drat B Stephen’s from Iowa or B Schrauth from ND.
I would draft a RT in round 3. M. Bell from Miami.
This team needs to have their Oline settled and jelling before they find their QBofFuture.
Use round 1 for a pass rusher and RD 2 for a DE/DT.
I doubt Decker would come here with a pay cut to play RT, bet he gets a better opportunity.
I wasn't happy at all with the progress of OL under J Frye. I was surprised he was retained. We had a better OL under K Adams in '24. I am also not impressed with the job MO has done with his personnel choices. That said, we have 2 positions that are in complete limbo in RG & RT (per your chart) and filled with league backups. How after 3yrs of attempts to fix the OL can it still be missing 40% of an O-Line? For all of Monti's attention, it shows how inaccurate he (and our FO) is at evaluating talent and how weak our coaching has been in developing talent. Meaning Monti failed in his coaching hires to develop that talent as well.
ReplyDeleteIn Frye's defense, it was mostly the veterans that disappointed: Brown, Hernandez, Williams and Beachum all had pff grades in the 50s. The young players outside of Fryar had better PFF grades than all of those guys. I think the coach probably has more impact on the young guys than the veterans. The fact is that Hernandez, Williams and Beachum all didn't have it physically last season due to injuries/age. That's not something any OL coach can fix. I'm fairly confident that K Adams wouldn't have been able to make those 3 look good last season either.
DeleteI think you're right the vets were terrible/underperforming last season. But I don't know how that defends Frye who coaches all the OL. Something -scheme, connection needed between linemen to work in unison-was off with his squad. Few if any OL improved his play last season besides consistently good Fro.
ReplyDeleteThis season we've shored up our left side and have solid depth. The Cardinals' right side offensive line is a textbook case of contradictory building and a potential disaster since players counted on to improve and start do not fit LaFleur's Wide Zone offense that lives and dies on lateral athleticism. Wilkinson, Fryer, Adams and Connor are slow footed maulers who just don't fit. The OL's competitiveness comes down to J Gaines who is a perfect fit and I'll be interested to see if he starts.
In addition to Walt's smart suggestion to draft OTs in later rounds and players likeBlake Frazier - best blend of polish + fit, Logan Brown- highest upside, Caleb Tiernan-scheme technician are solid fits for LaFluers scheme A later pick who fits is Miami's day 3-4 pick Samson Okunlola who needs development but is another perfect fit for Lafluers scheme.