Arizona Cardinals may have eyes on the Trai Turner situation
By Jim Koch
Shoring up the offensive line should once again be on the Arizona Cardinals 2021 agenda. The offense’s front wall played well last fall, but free agency threatens to leave the group with a couple of open spots. One of the positions, right guard, could potentially be filled with a five-time Pro Bowler.
Recent reports indicate that the Los Angeles Chargers are willing to trade veteran right guard Trai Turner. Arizona’s starter at that spot from last season, J.R. Sweezy, is not expected to be back with the team. A talented player like Turner would be a huge upgrade for the Cards if general manager Steve Keim could find a way to bring him to the desert.
Turner’s career in the NFL started back in 2014 when he was a third-round draft pick of the Carolina Panthers. The 6’3, 315 pounder played his college ball at LSU, and was voted Second-team All-SEC following his sophomore campaign in 2013. Incredibly, Turner was credited with 115 pancake blocks in 1,416 snaps as a collegiate guard for the Tigers.
As a rookie in ’14, Turner appeared in 13 games for the Panthers, and got the start in nine of those matchups. During his six seasons with Carolina, the New Orleans native dressed in 84 contests, and registered 80 starts. After five consecutive trips to the Pro Bowl, Turner was recognized as one of the best blockers in professional football.
In March of 2020, Turner was traded to the Chargers for left tackle Russell Okung. The 27-year old Turner missed seven games last year for Los Angeles, due to a variety of injuries. In fact, the lineman was sidelined for a total of nine contests over his last three campaigns with the Panthers.
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While his injury history could be viewed as a red flag, there’s no denying Turner’s talent. The Cardinals offensive line would improve dramatically if he was the starter at right guard. Turner could be released if a trade doesn’t come to fruition, and there’s a very good chance that Arizona could have interest in the eighth-year pro.