Who needs offense?
The Arizona Cardinals have spent the entire 2025 offseason focusing on rebuilding a defense that was sorely lacking talent. They've completely revamped the defensive front and added valuable pieces in the secondary.
Outside of signing Jacoby Brissett to a backup quarterback contract, Arizona has done almost nothing to address their needs on the offensive side of the ball. The Cardinals still have needs at receiver and on the interior of the offensive line as we inch closer to the start of the season. With slim pickings in free agency, Arizona may be forced to bring back a familiar face.
Arizona Cardinals could reunite with Will Hernandez after ignoring offense in the draft
It's hard to blame Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort for leaning so heavily into this defensive rebuild. The Cardinals had needs all over the defense after a mediocre 2024 season. But the lack of attention that Arizona's offense has received is a bit worrying.
After picking five consecutive defensive players in the 2025 draft, Arizona spent a sixth-round pick on former Texas guard Hayden Conner. Outside of a few undrafted free agent signings, that's all they did for their offensive line.
As it stands, the Cardinals are set to start 2024 third-round pick Isaiah Adams at one guard spot and Evan Brown at the other. While both players are fine starters, they could certainly be upgraded.
The Cardinals' offensive line struggled to hold up against elite defenses in 2024, mostly because of the huge talent discrepancy that some matchups posed. If Arizona takes a slight step back in terms of offensive line talent in 2025, it could spell trouble for Kyler Murray and their offense.
Will Hernandez started the first five games of the 2024 season for the Cardinals before enduring a season-ending ACL injury. In those five games, he gave up zero sacks and only committed two penalties. His contract with the Cardinals expired at the end of the season, and he's been sitting in free agency since.
Isaiah Adams, Hernandez's apparent replacement, struggled in his rookie year. In his five starts, he allowed two sacks and was penalized three times. Adams received a ho-hum grade of 58.4 from PFF.
If the Cardinals truly believe that Isaiah Adams is ready to step in as a full-time starter, then they should be set on the offensive line. However, a Will Hernandez reunion may be best for Arizona's playoff hopes this season.