Cardinals center Hjalte Froholdt leads the offensive line on a snap during Cardinals training camp at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, on July 31, 2025. © Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesBen BliklenThu, January 15, 2026 at 3:01 AM UTC·3 min readGLENDALE – The most uncomfortable truth in the desert is also the simplest, and the Arizona Cardinals are realizing that even with a top-tier quarterback, coach, or playbook, they will not be able to survive a broken offensive line. The Cardinals’ biggest problem heading into next season isn’t under center or on the sideline; it’s their talent in the trenches.
Arizona Cardinals offensive linemen Josh Fryar (78), Christian Jones (75), and Paris Johnson Jr. (70) during training camp at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on July 25, 2025. © Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementParis Johnson Jr. proved how fast stability changes everything. His presence didn’t just improve one position; it calmed the entire offense. Protection calls became cleaner. The run game looked intentional instead of improvised. That’s the compounding value of a real cornerstone lineman. One worked, and the rest didn’t. That is where the underlying problem is, as Johnson Jr. is only one player.
Nov 23, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back Bam Knight (20) celebrates a touchdown with offensive lineman Jon Gaines II (71), Hjalte Froholdt (72) and Paris Johnson Jr. (70) against the Jacksonville Jaguars at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Over a long NFL season, the Cardinals’ kind of fragility shows up in pressures allowed, third-and-long situations, and quarterbacks speeding up their internal clocks. Data across the league is clear: offenses behind bottom-tier pass-blocking units consistently rank near the bottom in EPA per play, regardless of quarterback talent. Arizona has lived that reality. Earlier this season, the Cardinals were asking players like Max Hernandez to come in right before the season started. That isn’t depth, it’s desperation.
Cardinals offensive linemen Isaiah Adams (74) and Paris Johnson Jr. (70) fist bump as they walk on the field during a preseason game at State Farm Stadium on August 9, 2025.© Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFor Cardinals fans, this isn’t about patience; it’s about direction. Rebuilds fail when teams chase skill positions before building infrastructure. They succeed when the front office treats the offensive line as a multiplier, not an accessory. Every explosive play, every late-game drive, every young quarterback’s confidence traces back to protection. Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort has to attack the offensive line through every channel by utilizing premium draft capital, smart trades, and veteran insurance. Until the Cardinals win up front, nothing else, no matter how exciting, will actually matter.
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