Revenge of the Birds
The Arizona Cardinals version of an NFL team in 2026 is a lot better than this year’s edition. Last year, the running back room was decimated via injury, as well as the offensive line.
GM Monti Ossenfort did a good job at attempting to fix the offensive line. He saw that right tackle was a problem. He identified that both guard spots were an issue. Ossenfort took a good effort and did not bring back Evan Brown, Kelvin Beachum, and Jonah Williams.
RELATED: ADAMS ARRESTED FOR GUN POSSESSION
Numerous players were signed during free agency and then selected in April’s NFL draft. Now that training camp is here, what battles for positions will this year’s Cardinals offensive line become involved in?
This training camp has a lot riding on getting this group into a productive unit. The new offense wants to run the ball a lot more than before. It takes good bodies in the room. Preseason games will tell what is going on. A new head coach, Mike LaFleur, plus a new offensive scheme, is being installed.
Ahead of training camp opening, let’s look at the offensive guard group.
This year’s group has a lot riding on it. There should be a lot of improvement with this group. New this year is Kendrick Bourne, signed during free agency from the San Francisco 49ers, Riggie Virgil, who was chosen in Round 5 of the NFL draft, along with undrafted rookie Harrison Wallace, III.
Cardinals’ OG depth chart
Seumalo was absolutely the splash of free agency for Arizona. Complete stud for the offensive guard position. His signing alone will change the narrative along the offensive line.
Now, the rookie Bisontis, who was selected in Round 2, will become the Wild Card along the line. He will be given every opportunity to win the right guard spot this year. If he can come through and provide the production he did in college, Ossenfort will have fixed both guard positions in one swoop this year.
Pryor is another great signing. He can come in at any time and play either guard position. However, he will push Bisontis for starting reps and could end up with the job.
Adams was also penciled in to compete, but with his recent arrest, we will see how that plays out. He was the darling of the line in training camp, and did well in preseason games while facing each team’s second- and third-string defensive players. But once the season began with the regular defensive starters, he struggled. Mightily. This may become a three-player battle throughout training camp.
Gaines will most likely become the key backup again this year, but has one more year of experience.
This group should shine as long as everyone remains vertical. This offense will want to run effectively and throw the ball in short and intermediate passing zones. This means the...
