Josh Jones named early breakout candidate for Cardinals in 2023
Looking ahead to the 2023 season, there will likely be a number of new changes. They have a new general manager and will have a new head coach.
Quarterback Kyler Murray might not be ready to start the season, coming back from a torn ACL.
Who will be new additions into the starting lineup and who will be the breakout players for Arizona in 2023?
Pro Football Focus believes that tackle Josh Jones is a candidate to be that player.
One could certainly argue that Jones broke out this season, from Week 10 onward, when he was starting at left tackle in place of an injured D.J. Humphries. Jones allowed four sacks and 25 total pressures as a starter and didn’t have a below-average game until he faced Nick Bosa.
Jones will likely be expected to be a starter in 2023, but it won’t be at left tackle. D.J. Humphries will return to that spot.
With Kelvin Beachum entering free agency and possibly retiring — he will be 34 years old before the start of next season — Jones is projected to be the Cardinals’ starting right tackle.
Entering the final year of his rookie contract, it will be critical for him to prove he is an NFL starter. If he does break out, it will benefit him and the Cardinals, as Kyler Murray will be protected, Jones will get paid and the Cardinals will have bookend tackles they can rely on.
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