The Arizona Cardinals will need to get the 2026 free agency class right. Help is needed in so many areas. GM Monti Ossenfort seems to have a good focus on both the offensive and defensive lines. Which is a huge plus.
Let’s hope his signings come to fruition this year.
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Right out of the gate, Ossenfort inked the best offensive guard prospect in this year’s class when he signed OG Issac Seumalo from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Next, he was able to get another good guard in Matt
Pryor of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Offensive guard last year was a horrible situation.
Under contract with the offensive line room right now are centers Hjalte Froholdt and Jon Gaines, guards Evan Brown, Isaiah Adams, and Hayden Conner, and tackles Josh Fryar, Paris Johnson, Valentin Senn, and Christian Jones.
So, who is this, Matt Pryor? And what can Cardinals fans expect from him?
Beginnings
Pryor, age 31, grew up in Lakewood, California, located just south of Los Angeles along I-710 and a stone’s throw away from Long Beach. It is approximately a 20-minute drive to the nearest coast.
In his freshman year in high school, he went to San Pedro High School in the San Pedro section near West 12th Street in Los Angeles. He then relocated to Lakewood High School in his 10th grade year.
He was always the big kid and was raised by his single mom, Brandi Calandrino, and helped her take care of three siblings. Later, his mother remarried, so he had a male influence with a stepfather.
He never played football until he transferred to Lakewood High School as a sophomore. Pryor obviously fit in immediately because of his sheer size. He played offensive tackle, nose tackle, and, on occasion, defensive end. In his junior year, he was already 6’-7” and weighed 300 pounds. By the time he got to his senior year, he was only playing defense on goal line situations and remained at right tackle or left tackle.
Living so close to LA, his favorite team growing up was the Los Angeles Lakers. His fav players were Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant.
He chose TCU to play his college football.
Like most freshmen, he redshirted in his true freshman year. When he finally got the opportunity to play, he played in eight games. He started five games in his sophomore campaign and played all 12 games, including TCU’s bowl game.
It was his junior year that he became a full-time starter with 13 games at right guard. Pryor also got his first job when he was hired as a bouncer at “The Varsity Bar” near TCU’s campus.
He started all 14 games as a senior and was named captain. He played eight games at right guard and six at right tackle. He was named Second Team All-Big 12 and invited to participate in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. He played in 47 games with 32 starts.
Leading up to the NFL draft, Pryor was now 6’-7”, 328 pounds.
At the Combine, he ran a 5.62 in the 40, had a vertical leap of 24.5”, broad jump of 8’-0”, and did 23 bench reps lifting 225 pounds. His wingspan measured out at 7’-2 5/8”, arm length of 35.5”, and his hands measured 11.5”.
On to the NFL
The Eagles selected him in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL draft. He then signed a four-year deal worth $2.59 million with a signing bonus of $132,783. Philly had a very good offensive line and used Pryor as quality depth.
In his rookie year, he played in 12 games, mainly on the punt team. He made his first start in the 2019-2020 playoffs when RG Brandon Brooks became injured. In 2020, he started 10 games. He was known for versatility because during his tenure in Philadelphia, he played right tackle, right guard, and left tackle.
Right before the final cutdown at the conclusion of the 2021 training camp, the Eagles traded him to the Indianapolis Colts with a switch of Day 3 picks. He played in all 17 games, starting five, and once again, played three positions at one point or another. He then signed an extension for one year worth $5.5 million.
In 16 games played in 2022, Pryor started four games at LT, one as RT, and four playing RG. He then went into free agency four years in a row and played 15 games with the San Francisco 49ers, 17 as a Chicago Bear, and then rejoined Philly and played in all 17 games before signing with Arizona this time around.
Pryor made $1.36 million last year with the Eagles. His Pro Football Focus grade for this past season was a nice 71.6. He had a single penalty, allowed three sacks, and four pressures, and played every offensive line position except for center.
Make no mistake, this is a very large man. He has long arms with a massive frame. Being that big, he does need time to navigate his defenders, which is why he is best suited for guard, where he doesn’t have to worry about fast first steps.
Pass sets with a good base width and ready, inside hands. Adequate athletic ability to mirror and redirect to challenge inside counter moves with his feet.
Pryor does some weight maintenance and can struggle with arm-over specialists while playing guard. He could use a huge dose of work ethic as well.
Where will Pryor play? That depends. He will move wherever he is needed, so, stay tuned.
He has a girlfriend, Arryana Coleman, and the couple has a baby daughter. Pryor’s X is: @Mpryor69.
