Cardinals' relevance in NFC Playoff race should help out unheralded starter make his first Pro Bowl
NFL Pro Bowl voting doesn't begin until later this month, which makes it a perfect time to highlight the Arizona Cardinals who deserve to be voted in.Quarterback Kyler Murray has been here before, and he's in the midst of having his best season since he was last voted a Pro Bowler back in 2021. Entering […]
NFL Pro Bowl voting doesn't begin until later this month, which makes it a perfect time to highlight the Arizona Cardinals who deserve to be voted in.
Quarterback Kyler Murray has been here before, and he's in the midst of having his best season since he was last voted a Pro Bowler back in 2021. Entering the middle of November with an NFC West-leading 6-4 record also helps validate the statistics.
The man who's snapping Murray the ball every play deserves just as much praise, and he's now getting it.
Cardinals C Hjalte Froholdt finally getting the recognition he deserves
Year two in Glendale has been the best season of Froholdt's career. The 28-year old has kept Murray extremely clean through the first 10 weeks of the season, and his run blocking is among the best in the league for gap schemes like the Cardinals run.
But again, winning creates attention. It's why Froholdt is entering the spotlight as an under-the-radar player worthy of Pro Bowl votes according to NFL.com's Kevin Patra.
"It's impossible not to watch the upstart Cardinals without noticing Froholdt in the middle of it all. From aiding Kyler Murray's pocket to getting out on screens, the former Patriots fourth-round pick is an underrated blocker. Through 10 games, Pro Football Focus charted Froholdt with zero sacks, three QB hits, and 10 QB hurries." – NFL.com's Kevin Patra
Only 11 other starting centers around the league have yet to allow a sack on their QB including Creed Humphrey of the Kansas City Chiefs and Tyler Linderbaum of the Baltimore Ravens. Froholdt won't have to worry about either one on the Pro Bowl ballot as they play in the AFC.
What also helps Froholdt is how well Arizona's entire offensive line is performing this year. Left guard Evan Brown has been a similar staple of consistency next to the Danish veteran, left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. has been charged with just five combined sacks and hits on Murray this season, and right guard Trystan Colon has picked up where starter Will Hernandez left off after his season-ending injury last month.
And it all starts in the middle with their highest-graded run blocker in Froholdt.
Arizona controls its own destiny towards its first division title since 2015. At this pace, Froholdt and others will start receiving the praise they've earned in the backdrop so far.
