Right guard possibilities for the 2021 Arizona Cardinals

For quite some time now, the Arizona Cardinals have been unable to maintain continuity on their offensive line. This year should be no different, due to the fact that a pair of starters from the 2020 unit are scheduled to test the free agent waters in March. One of the two, right guard J.R. Sweezy, will almost certainly be playing elsewhere this coming fall.

Sweezy’s impending departure will leave a vacancy at the spot he once occupied. Deciding on a replacement for the 31-year old veteran will be just one of the tasks on the to-do list of the Cards front office. Sweezy’s play declined a bit last season, so finding an upgrade for the squad’s right guard position should not be all that difficult.

Arizona has a couple of in-house candidates for the job who are already under contract for the 2021 campaign. Both blockers would qualify as solid options for the starting gig.

Justin Murray, a journeyman who’s entering his third year with the Cardinals, is one possibility. The 27-year old could either take over for Sweezy, or possibly replace another of the team’s free agent linemen at a different position. Murray could also be asked to succeed Kelvin Beachum, the Cards 16-game starter at right tackle last fall.

The other part of the duo is Josh Jones, Arizona’s third-round pick during the 2020 NFL Draft. Like Murray, the 23-year old could also be pressed into action at either right guard or right tackle. Jones was ranked as a first-round talent, so the organization was thrilled to be able to acquire the youngster with the 72nd-overall selection.

One of the biggest prizes on the open market is Brandon Scherff, the four-time Pro Bowler from the Washington Football Team. The 29-year old will likely be looking to cash in after being slapped with the franchise tag a year ago. He’ll command a huge salary, but Scherff would be an outstanding addition to the Cardinals blocking unit.

Some other free agent options for the Cards include John Miller (Carolina Panthers), Brian Winters (Buffalo Bills) and Lane Taylor (Green Bay Packers). Either Murray or Jones will more than likely be the solution, but an acquisition like Scherff could really make a difference. Arizona will provide us with the answer sometime in the coming months.