Isaiah Adams – Syndication Server

Another Cardinals rookie has become a starter

After getting the start in Week 14 and playing every single snap, a third-round pick has now officially become a starter.

The Arizona Cardinals have had important contributions from several of their 2024 rookie class. Receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., their first pick in the draft, has been a starter all season. Tight end Tip Reiman, drafted in the third round, is listed third on the depth chart at the position but has started eight of the team’s 13 games. He is the team’s blocking tight end.

Cornerback Max Melton, drafted in the second round, has only started one game but plays a significant role on defense as part of the cornerback rotation.

Another rookie has quietly moved into the starting lineup. Offensive lineman Isaiah Adams, drafted in the third round, went from getting shared snaps at right guard with Trystan Colon since the season-ending injury to Will Hernandez to starting in Week 14 and playing every snap.

This week, the move to the starting lineup was solidified with him being on the depth chart as the starting right guard.

According to Darren Urban for the official team site, “it was a dream come true” for Adams to get the start.

“(I) couldn’t sleep the night before,” Adams said. “But it was good to go against Leonard Williams, seeing what that type of strength is like, and being out there with the guys in that type of environment too in a game that means so much.”

With Hernandez on injured reserve and set to be a free agent after the season, including his start last week, this should be a very nice five-gam audition for the starting job next year. If he shows promise, it will impact how they address the guard position in the offseason.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

Back injury sidelined Cardinals rookie before game vs. Jets

Rookie Isaiah Adams had his back lock up on him before the game against the Jets, so he never even got to play a single snap.

Arizona Cardinals rookie guard Isaiah Adams was looking forward to gaining more experience in Sunday’s game against the New York Jets.

Unfortunately, his back failed to cooperate, as he got hurt before the game and after inactive were already announced.

Adams had been in a job-share with Trystan Colon at right guard since Will Hernandez suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 5 against the 49ers, a game in which Adams was inactive because of a thumb injury.

In Weeks 6-9, he played a total of 86 snaps with 40 percent against the Packers, 35 against the Chargers, 39 against the Dolphins and 29 against the Bears. In the Green Bay game, he also played snaps at left guard when Evan Brown suffered a knee injury and missed 18 snaps.

After the third play of the game against the Jets, it was reported that Adams was injured and that his return was questionable. It was strange to use the word “return” because he hadn’t played in the game and it turned out he wasn’t even dressed.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon explained Monday that when Adams was “coming out of the tunnel (for pregame warmups) his back locked up. It was kind of a weird deal that can happen. You get out of bed and kind of wrench your back, and you can’t walk. That’s kind of what happened, so it was a bad deal. He was down because he didn’t put his pads on because he couldn’t get moving well enough.”

Colon played all 59 offensive snaps in the game and Adams didn’t play, although Gannon said, “He actually got moving well enough to put his pads on, came out at halftime. I talked to him in the middle of the fourth quarter and he was down. He wanted to play, and you see that kind of frustration, disappointment and sadness in his face. You feel for the guy because he had a really good week (of practice).

“I thought Trystan played well too, but he’ll be out there (after the bye) ready to go. Honestly, just kind of a weird accident.”

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Expect a rotation at RG for Cardinals vs. Packers

The Cardinals are expected to use a rotation of a couple of players at right guard, Check out who they are expected to be.

The Arizona Cardinals will have a new starting right guard this week against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Will Hernandez suffered a season-ending knee injury in the team’s Week 5 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

It appears that the Cardinals will use a bit of a rotation at right guard moving forward.

Trystan Colon is listed as the starting right guard but the Cardinals are also expected to give rookie Isaiah Adams, one of the team’s third-round picks this year, playing time.

Gannon is “excited for those guys to play.”

Using a rotation is nothing new for the Cardinals. Last season, when Elijah Wilkinson was healthy late last season, Colon would come in and play for a series or two.

Expect that to be the case this weekend and moving forward. Colon will start and Adams will get some time.

The Cardinals and Packers kick off from Lambeau Field Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Sub scribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

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Rookie OL Isaiah Adams cracks 1st-team unit after injury to Hjalte Froholdt

Third-round pick Isaiah Adams filled in at left guard with the starting offense after center Hjalte Froholdt exited practice with an injury.

Injuries can often lead to opportunities for players to show what they can do. They are often how rookies end up with bigger roles. It is still training camp, but one Arizona Cardinals rookie found himself with the first-team offense because of an injury.

Guard Isaiah Adams, drafted in the third round this year, got some work in with the first-team offense at left guard on Tuesday when starting center Hjalte Froholdt apparently injured his knee.

When Froholdt left practice, Evan Brown, who has been the first-team left guard, slid over to center and Adams, who has been getting reps at both guard positions with the second unit, filled in at left guard.

It was his first reps with the first team in camp.

Many believed when he was drafted that he could compete for the starting job, as the Cardinals used four different starters at left guard in 2023. If Froholdt has to miss any significant time, Adams appears to have a shot at doing that.

Second-year lineman Jon Gaines also go teams with the first team on Tuesday.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Sub scribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

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Cardinals NFL Draft grades: Isaiah Adams, OL, Illinois 71st overall

Cardinals NFL Draft grade for selecting Illinois OL Isaiah Adams in the third round

The Arizona Cardinals have committed these past two offseasons to evolve as an offense and leaning more on a solid running attack as well as protecting franchise quaterback Kyler Murray. With the selection of Illinois offensive lineman Isaiah Adams, the Cardinals have added even more depth to an already impressive line rebuild.

Adams projects as a potential starter on an Arizona roster, but given the teams locked in starters at both tackle spots, he may be best suited for his more natural position at guard. Adams will have to compete with veteran Evan Brown for the starting guard spot opposite Will Hernandez.

Having played all across the offensive line in college, Adams is a super versatile player who can be a spot starter in a pinch. With natural power, solid technique, and a great track record as a pass blocked, Adams brings some much needed depth to the desert. This was a bit earlier than where we saw him going as Adams really lacks the top end potential to be a slam dunk starter in the league, but is still plenty valuable in the third round.

Grade: C+

Cardinals sign 2 more draft picks

The Cardinals are now down to four of their 12 draft picks left to be signed.

The Arizona Cardinals announced two more draft pick signings. They announced that cornerback Max Melton, selected 43rd overall as the Cardinals’ second round pick, and offensive lineman Isaiah Adams, selected in the third round with the 71st overall pick, signed their rookie contracts.

Their deals are for four year, as all rookie contracts are.

Melton, who played collegiately at Rutgers, is 5-foot-11 and 187 pounds with long 32 1/8-inch arms and a 76 5/8-inch wingspan. He has speed an athleticism to spare. He ran the 40 at the combine in 4.39 seconds and posted a 40.5-inch vertical leap and 136-inch broad jump. At his pro day, he ran the three-cone in 6.96 seconds.

Last season, he had three interceptions and picked off eight over the last three seasons. He broke up 21 passes in three seasons.

In addition to his play at cornerback, he also was a star special teamer. He was a starting gunner on the punt team for four seasons and blocked four punts in his career, including three in 2022.

The Cardinals have now signed eight of their 12 picks.

Who is officially under contract?

Melton (second-round pick)
Adams (third-round pick)
TE Tip Reiman (third-round pick)
CB Elijah Jones (third-round pick)
OLB Xavier Thomas (fifth-round pick)
OL Christian Jones (fifth-round pick)
WR Tejhaun Palmer (sixth-round pick)
CB Jaden Davis (seventh-round pick)

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Expected role for rookie OL Isaiah Adams for the Cardinals in 2024

Adams has a shot at a starting job as a rookie.

The Arizona Cardinals ended up with four selections in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft. They used the second of those picks, No. 71 overall, to take offensive lineman Isaiah Adams out of Illinois.

He played guard in 2022 and right tackle in 2023, although he is not a natural tackle. He played there because the team needed him to.

What sort of role can we expect of Adams in his rookie season?

Adams has a great opportunity. He plays a position that is more or less up for grabs at left guard.

Four different players started there last season — Elijah Wilkinson, Trystan Colon, Carter O’Donnell and Dennis Daley.

All return this season. Wilkinson’s entire salary is guaranteed. Colon’s is partially guaranteed.

Adams has a real shot at starting.

But that is the thing about the offensive line. If you don’t start, it’s hard to have a role, other than in the kicking game.

So Adams will perhaps start but otherwise is probably likely to be a backup guard.

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OL Isaiah Adams was 1st questionable draft pick for Cardinals

There were higher ranked guards on the board in Round 3 when the Cardinals selected him.

The Arizona Cardinals have, by and large, been given high grades for their 2024 draft class. They had the largest class with 12 picks and seven of them came in the first 90 picks.

Their first four picks were all great.

Their fifth pick and second of four in the third round, the 71st pick in the draft, was their first questionable one. They selected offensive lineman Isaiah Adams out of Illinois.

Adams is 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds with adequate athleticism. He played two years for Illinois, one year at guard and last year mostly at right tackle. He was not great at right tackle. So teams have to look at his 2022 tape at guard.

He was in the Senior Bowl where Arizona’s assistant O-line coach Chris Cook worked directly with him.

Getting a guard in Round 3 was fine. The reviews are mixed on Adams. He was not even in Daniel Jeremiah’s top 150 prospected. But he was given a third-round grade by Dane Brugler.

Two other guards, UConn’s Christian Haynes and Kansas’s Dominick Puni, were ranked more highly than Adams and were still on the board.

Additionally, he will already be 24 when training camp starts.

Most would likely say Haynes would have been a better selection.

However, others see a potential starter in Adams at a position — left guard — that is wide open for the Cardinals.

That said, given there were perceived better guards on the board than him, this is the first pick where you don’t feel as great about.

My initial grade was a C but I could be talked up to a B-minus.

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POLL: Grade the Cardinals’ selection of OL Isaiah Adams in Round 3

What do you think of the Cardinals’ pick of Isaiah Adams with the 71st pick in the draft?

Of the four third-round picks the Arizona Cardinals made on Friday, the second was offensive lineman Isaiah Adams, who played for Illinois. He was selected with the 71st pick in the draft.

He started games at left guard mostly but did play right tackle last year out of necessity for the team.

He was the sixth-rank guard in the draft, according to Dane Brugler and was worth a third-round pick.

What do you think of the selection?

Give the selection a grade in the poll linked here or embedded below.

Follow the live results linked here.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Sub scribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

Cardinals add O-line help with Illinois OL Isaiah Adams with pick No. 71

The Cardinals make an offensive selection with their second third-round pick.

With the second of four scheduled third-round picks, the Arizona Cardinals added offensive lineman Isaiah Adams out of Illinois. They made him the 71st pick in the draft.

Adams is 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds with 33 7/8-inch arms and a 81 7/8-inch wingspan.

The native Canadian transferred to Illinois in 2022 after two seasons with Wilfrid Laurier University and two with Garden City Community College. He will turn 24 years old in July.

With Illinois, he started all 25 games he played, logging one start at left tackle, 14 at left guard and 10 at right tackle. He was a team captain in 2023.

His play at right tackle was out of necessity for the team.

He has above-average athleticism for guard and average athleticism for a lineman in general.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Sub scribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.