Arizona Cardinals Camp Battles: Right Guard

The return of Rodney Hudson at heart for the Arizona Cardinals solidified 4 of 5 beginning offensive line spots. 

The outlier is correct guard, the place now-New York Large Max Garcia began when wholesome in the course of the second half of final season. 

The Prime Rivals

• Justin Murray
• Josh Jones
• Will Hernandez

Outdoors photographs

• Sean Harlow
• Lecitus Smith
• Marquis Hayes

The Cardinals have added names to the competitors in the course of the offseason, whereas Josh Jones and Justin Murray are returners who had been in the identical battle a 12 months in the past. 

Probably the most skilled newcomer is Will Hernandez, who spent the final 4 years with the Giants and performed below Cardinals offensive line coach Sean Kugler at UTEP. 

He signed a one-year deal in the course of the offseason. 

Cardinals normal supervisor Steve Keim singled out these three gamers when speaking concerning the place battle throughout an look on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports activities Station. 

“Now we have a lot of choices,” Keim mentioned. “I really feel like we’re fairly deep on the offensive line. Simply obtained to maintain proceed to get higher.”

Arizona additionally drafted a pair of guards this 12 months in Virginia Tech’s Lecitus Smith and Oklahoma’s Marquis Hayes. 

Jones received the precise guard spot coming into the season final 12 months, however he fell out of the beginning combine late within the season. He struggled with penalties, committing 10 in 17 video games. 

He enters Yr 3 within the NFL at 25 years previous after getting drafted as a deal with. 

“Josh has completed plenty of good issues, notably his potential to play in and out, play deal with and guard,” Keim mentioned. “He definitely regarded good this spring.”

Murray began one sport in 2021, however missed many of the season with a again damage. He took over the precise guard job down the stretch of the 2020 marketing campaign after beginning 12 video games at proper deal with in 2019. 

The 29-year-old has essentially the most expertise enjoying in head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s system. 

Hernandez has began each sport in three of 4 seasons because the Giants chosen him within the second spherical in 2018. He performed 95% of offensive snaps final 12 months, solely at proper guard, though he was the left guard throughout his first three seasons. 

He’s the heaviest participant on the workforce at 335 kilos, even larger than defensive deal with Leki Fotu. 

For no matter it is value, Hernandez was current not too long ago on a social media graphic distributed by the workforce with Arizona’s different beginning offensive linemen. 

Smith and Hayes obtained loads of expertise towards big-school competitors, as each had been three-year starters. 

Arizona, although, has not had a rookie begin persistently on the offensive line since heart Mason Cole in 2018. 

Harlow is one other returner who discovered a backup function final season. He began 5 video games filling in at left guard and heart, however didn’t take a snap on the precise facet of the road. 

The Cardinals’ offensive line was largely in flux final 12 months as a result of accidents and circumstances of COVID-19. Jones and Murray have expertise in a number of positions, which may assist fill out the depth chart. 

D.J. Humphries at left deal with, Justin Pugh at left guard, Hudson at heart and Kelvin Beachum at proper deal with are the returning starters from final 12 months.