The Arizona Cardinals were already dealt a major blow to their offensive line with second-round rookie Chase Bisontis suffering a season-ending MCL tear in their preseason win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Though Bisontis wasn't the team's starting right guard, he was looking like an immediate contributor and a first-round value hidden in the second round. The injury makes it all the more clear that Isaiah Adams will be this team's starting right guard, though depth is an increased concern.
But at least Arizona still has a starting-caliber guard in Adams. Can the same be said for their right tackle position?
Cardinals still need to upgrade at right tackle
Their depth at the right tackle position includes Elijah Wilkinson, Jayden Williams, and Demontrey Jacobs. That's not going to cut it. Not even a running back room of Jeremiyah Love and Tyler Allgeier can get through holes that don't exist. This isn't Harry Potter at Platform 9 ¾.
For a rebuilding Cardinals team coming off a three-win season, the long-term outlook remains top priority. While Bisontis' injury stings, the significance of the loss means they'll be just fine at that position once he's back.
The same, however, can't be said for the right tackle position, which has become the most glaring hole in the offense. Okay, besides quarterback.
Can Elijah Wilkinson hold his own this season?
For context, Bleacher Report has Adams ranked as the No. 13 right guard heading into the season, with a grade of 69.
You have to scroll to the "Backup, Developmental" tier of their right tackle rankings to get to Wilkinson, who comes in at No. 30 with a grade of 53.
The fact that Williams, a seventh-round rookie, is already second on the depth chart is both a sign of his impressive training camp and telling about this team's lack of depth at the position.
The Cardinals have invested top picks into offensive weapons like Love, but need to fill that hole at right tackle to become an elite offense that's well-rounded enough to give teams legitimate difficulty solving.
Wilkinson has started in the past, including nine games in a 2023 stint with the Cardinals. He was even the Atlanta Falcons' starter all of last season. Hopefully that starting experience means he can be serviceable as a short-term starter. It doesn't help his case that Atlanta moved on after Wilkinson finished tied for fourth in the league in total penalties at 11.
Even though the Cardinals signed him to a two-year, $6.25 million deal, they can't allow this to be anything more than a one-year stopgap at starting right tackle. If that.
If they bring in a top 2027 prospect at quarterback like Arch Manning, Dante Moore, etc, they certainly want that franchise piece protected at all costs. That means having someone better than No. 30 at right tackle.
Williams has been a great offseason story, but it's wishful thinking for Arizona to rely on a seventh-round pick to be the long-term answer at right tackle. It's too important a spot to leave unaddressed. At least they reunited with Wilkinson, but he should be the backup, at least in a real roster battle this offseason as a borderline starting option.
None of that is happening in Arizona, and the lack of competition is a cause for concern.
Add us as a preferred source on Google