The Arizona Cardinals' offensive line is shaping up, but there's still one position up for grabs. Four of the five spots seem pretty locked in: Paris Johnson at left tackle, Hjalte Froholdt and Will Hernandez returning at center and right guard, and new addition Jonah Williams handling right tackle.
- Left guard remains a mystery, with four different players—Elijah Wilkinson, Dennis Daley, Trystan Colon, and Carter O'Donnell—having started at least one game there last season. Excitingly, all four are back on the roster for 2024, adding to the competition.
However, it looks like a newcomer might snag the starting spot. Evan Brown, formerly of the Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks, seems to be the frontrunner. Check out this screenshot from the Cardinals' YouTube page: it's Brown (No. 62) lining up at left guard next to Johnson (No. 70).
- Last season, Brown was the Seahawks' starting center. Before that, he started at center and right guard for Detroit. While it's just one rep from OTAs, it's clearly with the first team, suggesting the coaches have big plans for him.
This doesn't guarantee Brown will start at left guard come the regular season, as there's still plenty of time for changes. But this period is crucial for building continuity on the offensive line, so his first-team reps are a strong indicator.
- Stay tuned during training camp. When practices are open to the public, we'll get a clearer picture of Brown's role and see how often he's with the first team.
At minimum, Brown's presence is something to watch closely. It seems he's not in the mix to replace Froholdt at center, indicating the Cardinals likely signed him to bolster the guard position.
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