Arizona Cardinals' search for a starting center remains a work in progress
It’s been almost a decade since the Arizona Cardinals had a long-term, dependable center manning the middle of the offensive line.
They’ve tried multiple stand-ins and have had their share of short-time hits and misses but have yet to find the next version of Lyle Sendlein, the former prep standout from Scottsdale Chaparral who started all 16 games six times during his final eight seasons in Arizona. He started 122 of the 128 games he played overall from 2008-15.
Barring the signing of an experienced veteran, which seems likely at some point, for now the Cardinals’ search for their next starting center figures to be an ongoing work in progress. That’s mostly because, at present, they don’t have a player anywhere on the roster with a deep background in having played the position.
The team signed free-agent guard Hjalte Froholdt, 26, to a two-year contract but he’s only started six total games in his NFL career. Four of those starts came at center last season for the Cleveland Browns on an emergency basis. The 6-foot-5, 310-pound Froholdt, a native of Denmark, had never played center before that.
“I did my best at what I needed to do, and I’m proud of my efforts and proud of my production but I was lucky to be surrounded by amazing players and an amazing coach,” Froholdt told the Cardinals’ website. “I kind of got thrown into the fire a little bit, but I was happier that way — I didn’t have to think much about it. I just went out and played some ball.”
Froholdt might be the early leading candidate for the job, but the Cardinals used a fourth-round pick in this year’s draft on a versatile lineman who might also have some potential as a center. Jon Gaines II, 22, started all 25 games he played the past two seasons at UCLA. The 6-4, 300-pounder started 22 of those games at right guard, two at center and one at right tackle.
What the Cardinals find intriguing about Gaines as a possible candidate to play center is that he got some extended work there, along at the left guard spot, during a postseason All-Star event.
“He is a guy that we did a lot of work on in the fall, and then he showed up at the East-West game in Las Vegas and had a chance to play some center there like he did at UCLA as well,” Cardinals General Manager Monti Ossenfort said. “We've kept a good conversation going with him from Vegas until through the combine and through the pre-draft process.”
Dave Sears, Arizona’s assistant GM, said the Cardinals drafted a player in Gaines who can be a good fit at any of the three interior spots along the offensive line.
“Clearly mentally he can handle it. He's one of the sharper guys we dealt with all spring,” Sears said. “So anytime you get a guy who's just a guard or just a center, you guys see how many injuries you get. Guys get shuffled around. So having a guy who's done it, not just projected to do it, so you can look at some tape and see that and that's a very valuable skill set.”
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Gaines was formally introduced on Thursday at the team’s Tempe training facility and said he’s willing to play whatever position the team needs. He’ll get his share of looks at center in short order as the Cardinals open their three-day rookie minicamp on Friday.
“I played all over the field at UCLA, so wherever they need me to play I’m just ready to contribute,” Gaines said, adding of the key to playing center, “I think it goes hand-in-hand with being a good offensive lineman, being a good teammate. It’s about accountability, intelligence, toughness. It all just goes hand-in-hand with being a good football player.”
The only other player on the roster with any known connection to playing center is second-year pro Lecitus Smith, 6-3, 320. He played almost exclusively at left guard during his college career at Virginia Tech but got some work at center in practice last season as a rookie when veteran Rodney Hudson was sidelined indefinitely with a knee problem. Hudson was released earlier this offseason.
“We’ll sort that out just like all the other positions to see what’s the best combination of people, who’s comfortable doing what they need to do from the center position and both guard positions,” coach Jonathan Gannon said when asked where things stand at center. “I like where it’s at right now. “(Froholdt) has done a really good job for us in there these last couple weeks here and we’ll continue to evaluate that as we get going.”
The process will be ongoing, though, and Ossenfort confirmed that the Cardinals aren’t done seeking help at center.
“Yes, I think it applies to every position; we’re constantly looking everywhere,” he said, adding, “As it pertains to the center position, I would say this: I would say really not even the center position. I'd say all along the offensive line, all those guys up front are going to play multiple positions. They're going to play left tackle, right tackle, they're going to play tackle to guard, guard to tackle, center to guard.
“Like Dave alluded to, if you're a one-position player, you better do that one position really well. So, you know, all those guys are going to work everywhere. So not just the center position, I'd say all, it's all across the board.”
Veteran centers currently available as free agents include Ben Jones, who was the starting center for the Tennessee Titans for the past seven seasons. Jones, 33, dealt with concussion issues in 2022 and was released in March after a failed physical. Another name to watch is six-year pro Pat Elflein, 28, who has played for the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets and Carolina Panthers but he’s coming off season-ending hip surgery.
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Notes
The team announced Thursday it has signed five of its nine rookie draft picks, including first-round pick Paris Johnson Jr., the offensive lineman from Ohio State. Johnson signed a four-year deal with an option for a fifth year.
The four other rookies – Gaines, wide receiver Michael Wilson, quarterback Clayton Tune and linebacker Owen Pappoe – signed standard, four-year deals.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Rookie lineman Jon Gaines II will get time at center for Cardinals
