Former Arizona Cardinals who could return in 2019

John Wetzel, OL

Pros for return: John Wetzel shouldn’t be relied upon as a full-time starter, but he does have the versatility and ability to play nearly anywhere across the offensive line. And at 27-years-old, he has the room to grow into a better offensive lineman.

Although the Cardinals have brought in Marcus Gilbert, J.R. Sweezy, and Max Garcia to the offensive line room, they could stand to have some familiarity with the backups. Ultimately, I chose Wetzel over Joe Barksdale because he played three seasons with the Redbirds. That long-term relationship doesn’t just come in handy with the offensive linemen; it also comes in handy with the backfield skill position players.

Cons for return: Wetzel struggled in 2018. He played just eight games and started five. He finished the year with a Pro Football Focus grade of 55.0, good for 72nd in the NFL amongst offensive tackles. The added depth across the line also makes the position grouping that much harder to crack.

Final verdict: Wetzel is familiar with the Cardinals and offers an ability to play across the board. While the Cardinals have an abundance of depth linemen, resigning Wetzel for insurance or adding him to the practice squad may be beneficial.

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