After years of mediocrity, the Arizona Cardinals are finally ready to make a playoff push. The defense has received a much-needed injection of talent, and the offense is relying on continuity to get over the hump. Everything is set for a competitive season.
One weak spot on the roster could completely derail the Cardinals’ playoff hopes, leaving fans devastated once again.
Cardinals weakness at guard could ruin their season
All offseason long, Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort has focused on building a balanced roster without any clear areas of need. For the most part, he’s done an excellent job. He has solved the team’s issues on the defensive line, filled out the secondary, and added to the linebacker room. But Monti may have missed a spot.
The Cardinals are lacking adequate talent at offensive guard. After the departure of current free agent William Hernandez, Isaiah Adams looks set to step into a starting role. Adams was fine in his limited playing time as a rookie in 2024, but he still has some growing to do. With five starts last season, Adams received an overall grade of 58.4 from PFF. He showed the growing pains you’d expect from a third-round rookie.
There is one other player challenging Adams for the starting position. Recently signed veteran Royce Newman could be a capable starter if he needs to be. Newman has bounced around the league since being drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 2021. He may not instill confidence in the hearts of Cardinals fans if he wins the starting job, but he is at least more experienced than Adams is.
If Adams wins the battle for the starting spot, which he likely will, he may be stepping into a role that he isn’t ready for. Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing asks a lot of his linemen, and the increased responsibility may stunt Adams’s growth as a player.
The offensive line was one of the strengths of this team last season. The Cardinals had one of the most efficient rushing attacks in the NFL, largely due to the play of their front. If the unit has a new weak link in 2025, the team’s biggest offensive advantage may be wiped away.
Modern NFL defenses know how to pick apart any weakness that opponents present. If the Cardinals show any level of inadequacy on the offensive line, they could be in for a load of trouble.