The Arizona Cardinals are going to need some help at offensive line in 2023, and there are five potential fits for the Redbirds.
The Arizona Cardinals could solve some of their offensive line woes simply by hanging onto a couple of pending unrestricted free agents in Kelvin Beachum and Will Hernandez. However, if the Cards decide to let both linemen walk, they could sign two players to replace them, and they would still need to snag a center.
Luckily, Arizona has ample cap space to work with, so they could sign some serviceable names either to one-year rentals, or even long-term deals. Below, you will find five linemen who could both fit their budget and provide serviceable pieces for 2023.
5 offensive linemen the Arizona Cardinals could sign in 2023
5 - Matt Pryor, G
Pryor made nine starts last season, and he was part of an Indianapolis Colts team that never found its footing. Listed as a tackle, per Pro-Football-Reference but as a guard on SpotTrac, Pryor may factor in better as the latter. It’s a position he will most likely play if general manager Monti Ossenfort decides to pursue him in free agency and either keeps Beachum at tackle or goes out and signs another.
While his PFF Grade was a meager 44.9, Pryor could see a bit of a resurgence if he indeed slid inside the tackles. Overall, he’d project best under a one-year prove-it deal, and sign long-term if he exceeded expectations.
4 - Bradley Bozeman, C
No matter what, the Arizona Cardinals will be looking for a center thanks to Rodney Hudson’s overall inefficacy and likely retirement. Bozeman spent a season in Carolina, where he played in 67% of all offensive snaps in 17 games, with 11 starts.
Per PFF, Bozeman allowed just two sacks and earned a grade of 63.1. No, he’s not the best center of the bunch, but if the Cards are looking for a solid stopgap, then Bozeman could be a prime candidate.
3 - Isaac Seumalo, G
Of course, with head coach Jonathan Gannon’s ties to the Philadelphia Eagles, it shouldn’t surprise you if Isaac Seumalo wound up with the Arizona Cardinals. Per PFF, Seumalo earned a solid 75.2 grade, and he allowed just one sack in 1,137 snaps and 17 starts.
It should go without saying that he was a pivotal reason the Eagles offense clicked the way it did, and his presence would provide an immediate upgrade in the desert. Thanks to his familiarity with Gannon, don’t be surprised if Seumalo is one of several Eagles finding their way to the desert.
2 - Mike McGlinchey, T
This isn’t the first time I’ve mentioned McGlinchey, and he would factor in as a huge addition at right tackle. For one, the Arizona Cardinals would be weakening a division rival if they landed the San Francisco 49er. And for another, they could find a solution at right tackle long-term.
One of the NFL’s more durable players, McGlinchey has 4,429 career offensive snaps in his first five seasons and at 28, he’s still well into his prime years. While he committed 10 penalties and allowed six sacks per PFF, their 71.5 overall grade places McGlinchey among the better tackles in football. Overall, he would make a great addition to the Cards offensive line.
1 - Ethan Pocic, C
Ethan Pocic will get a pay day, considering his play in Cleveland last season. Earlier in the month, I listed Pocic as one potential player the Arizona Cardinals could take from the Browns, and with Drew Petzing heading up operations in the desert, the Redbirds odds of signing Pocic should be high.
Pocic saw time in 13 games last season, and played in 821 snaps. After he committed just one penalty and allowed two sacks last season, targeting the center in free agency should be a top priority for a team that has struggled with penalties for years.
PFF gave Pocic a 79.0 grade, ranking him as one of the better centers in the NFL. Overall, the Cards will likely find themselves bidding against a few teams for Pocic’s services, but it would be a huge win if they can land the center.
(Player grades and statistics provided by Pro Football Focus, snap count percentages when applicable provided by Pro-Football-Reference)