TEMPE, Ariz. — Shortly before free agency started in March, Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr.’s phone buzzed.
It was a text message asking if he could play left tackle. Johnson said yes; he had been training at both tackle positions since the season ended just in case he was moved.
Johnson, who played all 17 games at right tackle last season as a rookie, asked after last season what the team’s plans were for him in 2024. He was told that the conversation would be had at some point during the offseason. During the text conversation in March though, he was informed that Arizona’s free agency moves would impact which position he would play.
Left tackle D.J. Humphries, Johnson’s mentor who had been with Arizona since 2015, was released on the first day of free agency. Arizona then agreed to terms with Jonah Williams, the former Cincinnati Bengals tackle who played last season at right after lining up at left in his first three seasons.
Jonathan Gannon said last week Johnson would be the left tackle, protecting Kyler Murray‘s blind side, and Williams would be at right.
“We’ll start there and see how it goes,” Gannon said.
Naming the tackles is the first major move for a line that will return four of five starters — a unit that was strong in protecting the run. In 2023, the Cardinals ranked second in yards per rush (5.0) and yards before contact per rush (3.09); third in rushes of 10 or more yards (71); fourth in total run yards (2,365), rushing yards per game (139.1) and yards after first contact per rush (1.93).
“Second year in the system so the guys that are coming back, I think, feel a lot more comfortable with what we’re trying to get done,” Gannon said. “We made a few adjustments by how we want to do things up there, certain run and pass things, techniques, different calls. And I think that the competition is high in there. The couple guys that we added are going to add to that room and that competition.”
That decision to put Johnson Jr., the Cardinals’ 2023 first-round pick, at left tackle and Williams at right solidified two of the offensive line’s five positions. Gannon has tried to keep some suspense about who will fill out the line even though the starters at those positions — Elijah Wilkinson at left guard, Hjalte Froholdt at center and Will Hernandez at right guard — are all returning.
“They’re all competing for roles right now,” Gannon said. “… Is there a first group that goes out there right now? There is, you know what I mean? That’s their role right now, but they’re really competing for it. Our roles as a team are not defined yet.”
Gannon tried to have the same approach last season, repeatedly saying he wouldn’t name the five starters until they walked out for the first offensive snap of the season, but the same five who started the season opener played together all through training camp.
“I guess that’s kind of a smart Alec remark, so I apologize for that, but I do believe it,” he said.
Froholdt will likely return as the Cardinals’ center; Gannon has said that he sees and likes Froholdt in that role for the second straight year but added that he could also play guard. Froholdt, who’s entering his fifth season after starting all 17 games last year, said he’s willing to play guard, if needed, but is comfortable where he’s at.
“In the end, we need the best five out there, so if that’s either me at guard or me at center, I’m willing to play it,” Froholdt said. “I feel pretty good where I’m at right now, but this is also the time of year to try some things and stuff like that, so, I’m obviously open to anything that J.G. or the staff wants.”
Whether Hernandez continues at right guard and Wilkinson stays at left guard is yet to be seen. Throughout OTAs, the idea of Hernandez following Johnson Jr. to the left side has been floated, but Hernandez said those conversations haven’t taken place, but he said that he’s at the point of his career where he feels comfortable on both sides, adding that “you never know.”
The addition of Evan Brown in March also gave the Cardinals some versatile depth in the interior of their line. Gannon described Brown’s football character as “excellent” and said Brown can be a two-position guy. Trystan Colon has emerged as another option at left guard; He started four of the 14 games he played in last season for Arizona.
This much is known about the Cardinals’ offensive line this season: Its bookends are former high first-round picks, the interior is experienced and versatile and after last season, which also included helping James Conner to his first ever 1,000-yard season, the bar has been raised.
“The standard is much higher now to know exactly what you need to do,” Froholdt said. “It’s not like, ‘Oh, wow, I’m not exactly sure. OK, well, everybody’s not exactly sure either.’ … Now, if you don’t know what you’re doing, you stick out like a sore thumb.
“… It’s cool to see there’s that continuity between everybody, but there’s also expectation of don’t miss your point. There’s a lot at stake here and we want to be perfect.”