Kelvin Beachum will likely be Arizona Cardinals right tackle

The ninth-year NFL veteran appears to have the inside track on the Arizona Cardinals vacancy at the right tackle position

Roughly a month ago, a decision made by starting right tackle Marcus Gilbert had a significant effect on the Arizona Cardinals. The 32-year old felt threatened by the COVID-19 pandemic, a concern which caused the blocker to opt out of the 2020 campaign. The announcement by Gilbert, a veteran with 87 career starts on his resume, would create a competition between three candidates for the now-vacant spot on the Cards offensive line.

With the regular-season now less than two weeks away, a member of the competing trio is emerging as the favorite to replace Gilbert. Kelvin Beachum, a ninth-year pro who signed with the Cardinals back in July, appears to be pulling away from both Justin Murray and Josh Jones. The 30-year old Beachum has not officially been handed the job, but there are indications that the team may be leaning in that direction.

This past Monday, Arizona’s head coach gave Beachum quite an endorsement. Appearing on the “Bickley and Marotta” radio show, Kliff Kingsbury let it be known that the 6’3, 308 pounder is certainly the frontrunner for the right tackle job. “If we played today, Beachum would be the starter there,” Kingsbury told the two hosts.

Beachum’s advantage in experience over his two adversaries may be a factor. The Texas native, who has suited up for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets, has 99 professional starts under his belt. Most of the action that Beachum has seen, however, has been at the left tackle post.

All 12 of Murray’s NFL starts came with the Cards last season. The University of Cincinnati product got off to a rough start, but improved as the year went on. Jones, a 23-year old out of the University of Houston, was just drafted by the Cardinals this past April.

With Gilbert out of the picture, Beachum would seem to be the best choice for Arizona. “We’ve been really pleased with what Beachum has done,” KIngsbury said. Sounds like a dcecision on who will be the Cards right tackle in 2020 may have already been made.