Arizona Cardinals offensive line retains some continuity
By Scott Allen
The Arizona Cardinals were able to keep one of their own on the offensive line
For Mike Iupati, it was a difficult 2017 because of injury. His absence, like others, hurt the Arizona Cardinals offensive line.
He was also scheduled to make $7.75 million in 2018. The Cardinals asked him to take a pay cut and on Thursday he agreed.
Iupati will now make $5 million in 2018. The Cardinals signed him in 2015 to help their running game. He also had his scheduled $250,000 roster bonus eliminated. Now the guard will enter his fourth season with Arizona.
Iupati only played in one game in 2017 after playing in 15 of 16 in 2016. When he signed with Arizona in 2015 he was considered the fourth-overall best free agent available.
Iupati is known more for his run blocking than his pass protection. His pass protection though hasn’t been as bad as it was advertised coming over from the San Francisco 49ers. Still, you want him on the field in running situations.
Running back David Johnson has to be estatic with this move. Keeping Iupati on the roster helps keep some familiarity on an offensive line that is going to have some new faces.
The Cardinals signed tackle Andre Smith from the Cincinnati Bengals on Wednesday, supposedly to replace Jared Veldheer. Rumors were swirling on Veldheer’s future with the team.
The Cardinals are reportedly looking to shed Veldheer’s salary by either trading or straight out releasing him. He is scheduled to make $6.9 million in 2018. No moves have been made either way yet.
Veldheer struggled in 2018, mainly at right tackle where he was moved after D.J. Humphries was moved to left tackle, a position once held by Veldheer until his injury in 2016.
When Humphries got hurt in game one last season, Veldheer was moved back to left tackle. Either way, although he had some bright moments, it was mostly a struggle.
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Now with Iupati back in the fold, a move once considered a long shot, there will be some continuity on the line, something that will be huge for new quarterbacks Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon. The Cardinals aren’t done with the line though. They know this is a priority.