Taylor Moton should be Arizona Cardinals next right tackle
By Jim Koch
Since the conclusion of the 2015 NFL campaign, the Arizona Cardinals have had a revolving door at the right tackle position. The last player to retain that starting job for consecutive seasons was Bobby Massie, who left the club as a free agent in March of 2016. Since then, blockers like D.J. Humphries, Jared Veldheer, Andre Smith, Justin Murray and Kelvin Beachum have all taken a turn at the Cards right tackle post.
Those who follow professional football would tell you that continuity is the most important ingredient for a successful offensive line. Obviously, Arizona’s front office has failed miserably at achieving that goal. There’s a lineman scheduled for free agency, however, that would finally bring some much-needed stability to the Cardinals right tackle spot.
Taylor Moton, a fifth-year veteran from the Carolina Panthers, could do that and a whole lot more for the Cards offense, The 6’5, 325 pounder was a second-round selection of the Panthers back in 2017. Moton took on a backup role as a rookie, but was handed Carolina’s starting right tackle gig in 2018.
The results have been sensational. According to Pro Football Focus, Moton was Carolina’s highest-rated offensive performer (81.2) in 2020. The 26-year old also allowed a miniscule 3.4% pressure rate, which was the lowest of his four-year pro career.
Moton has been an ironman for the Panthers as well. The Western Michigan University product has not yet missed a game since he entered the league back in ’17. Moton has also been on the field for at least 99% of Carolina’s offensive snaps over the past three campaigns.
The success that Moton has enjoyed at the professional level should lead to a huge payday for the Panthers blocker this offseason. Pro Football Focus is predicting that the Michigan native could ink a five-year deal that could be worth as much as $82.5 million. That’s big-time money, but Arizona’s game of musical chairs at the right tackle position has gone on for far too long.
Cardinals general manager Steve Keim needs to solve the team’s offensive line quandary once and for all. The band-aids that have been applied to the group over the past several years are destined to fall off. Bringing Moton into the fold would be an excellent way to shore up an area of the Cards roster that desperately needs some help.