The Arizona Cardinals have two starting tackle positions to address this offseason. D.J. Humphries is scheduled to be a free agent and so is Marcus Gilbert, who began the season as the starting right tackle but tore his ACL before Week 1.
It is largely believed that Humphries will be back at least for one year, as the team could use the franchise or transition tag on him.
They could bring back Gilbert, although he is still recovering from the ACL tear.
However, that hasn’t stopped the team before. They gave center A.Q. Shipley a contract extension in 2018 after he tore his ACL. They signed Max Garcia despite tearing his ACL midseason in 2018.
Gilbert would like to come back to the Cardinals, but plans on playing somewhere. “Hopefully it’s here in Arizona, where I’d love to be,” he said, according to Kyle Odegard for the official team site.
The Cardinals have more than $53 million in salary cap space. That can go quickly, especially if they sign Humphries.
Gilbert might be a reasonable way to fill the right tackle job. The Cardinals have had retired quarterback Carson Palmer and also Shipley come back in fine form from an ACL tear and that gives Gilbert a good mindset.
Justin Murray, who started 14 games last season, can’t go elsewhere unless the Cardinals don’t want him.
Having Murray and Gilbert compete for the starting job could allow the Cardinals to spend their money elsewhere. Gilbert is a talented right tackle whose issue has been durability recently.
Will the Cardinals make a splash in the offseason or will they count on Murray and Gilbert to handle the job like in 2019?
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Ep. 257
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Ep. 256
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