The Arizona Cardinals version of an NFL team in 2026 is a lot better than this year’s edition. Last year, the running back room was decimated via injury, as well as the offensive line.
GM Monti Ossenfort did a good job at attempting to fix the offensive line. He saw that right tackle was a problem. He identified that both guard spots were an issue. Ossenfort took a good effort and did not bring back Evan Brown, Kelvin Beachum, and Jonah Williams.
RELATED: ADAMS ARRESTED FOR GUN POSSESSION
Numerous players
were signed during free agency and then selected in April’s NFL draft. Now that training camp is here, what battles for positions will this year’s Cardinals offensive line become involved in?
This training camp has a lot riding on getting this group into a productive unit. The new offense wants to run the ball a lot more than before. It takes good bodies in the room. Preseason games will tell what is going on. A new head coach, Mike LaFleur, plus a new offensive scheme, is being installed.
Ahead of training camp opening, let’s look at the offensive guard group.
This year’s group has a lot riding on it. There should be a lot of improvement with this group. New this year is Kendrick Bourne, signed during free agency from the San Francisco 49ers, Riggie Virgil, who was chosen in Round 5 of the NFL draft, along with undrafted rookie Harrison Wallace, III.
Cardinals’ OG depth chart
- Right guard: Chase Bisonti, backup Isaiah Adams, Matt Pryor
- Left guard: Issac Seumalo, backup Jon Gaines II
Best expectations?
Seumalo was absolutely the splash of free agency for Arizona. Complete stud for the offensive guard position. His signing alone will change the narrative along the offensive line.
Now, the rookie Bisontis, who was selected in Round 2, will become the Wild Card along the line. He will be given every opportunity to win the right guard spot this year. If he can come through and provide the production he did in college, Ossenfort will have fixed both guard positions in one swoop this year.
Pryor is another great signing. He can come in at any time and play either guard position. However, he will push Bisontis for starting reps and could end up with the job.
Adams was also penciled in to compete, but with his recent arrest, we will see how that plays out. He was the darling of the line in training camp, and did well in preseason games while facing each team’s second- and third-string defensive players. But once the season began with the regular defensive starters, he struggled. Mightily. This may become a three-player battle throughout training camp.
Gaines will most likely become the key backup again this year, but has one more year of experience.
This group should shine as long as everyone remains vertical. This offense will want to run effectively and throw the ball in short and intermediate passing zones. This means the amount of time to throw becomes minimal.
Worst case?
Just like Adams had a great training camp last year but struggled in real games, that very well could be what happens to Biscontis. Even though he played in a tough conference, this is big boy football now.
2026 version?
This group will need to learn this new offense and lead the way. Effective runs up the middle are going to be the norm.
Jon Gaines is an adequate backup, having played in 30 NFL games, but with only five starts. Signing Pryor this year is a huge advantage, giving the offensive line a guy who can play all three interior positions. These two make the depth way ahead of last year’s line options.
We will have to see how the legal issues with Adams play out. He has been viewed in the mix for the starting job, which may now change. He struggled early last year, then played the remainder of the schedule after Will Hernandez was injured and was thrown back onto the field.
The dark horse here is Bisontis. If he kills it in training camp, the line’s overall view will increase. Seumalo is a steady player who is durable and really strong.
