Cardinals agree to terms with a familiar face in free agency, welcome back a no-brainer addition to upgrade their trenches heading in 2025

A familiar face returns with a chance to seize a starting job up front.

Kyle Crabbs — NFL National Writer
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The Arizona Cardinals invested the vast majority of their offseason resources into the team’s defense. Top draft picks and free agent dollars alike were poured into a defensive unit that took major leaps from the team’s first season under Jonathan Gannon but still needed an extra kick. The Cardinals have that now but the lingering question going into this season have transitioned to if the status quo on offense is good enough.

The Cardinals have made a move on Thursday, adding to that very status quo. And, ironically enough, it is a continuation of Arizona’s offensive theme of running it back. They’re signing last year’s initial starter at right guard, Will Hernandez, to a one-year deal according to multiple reports.

Cardinals agree to terms with offensive guard Will Hernandez

The veteran offensive guard was only recently cleared after a season-ending knee injury cut his 2024 campaign short after just five games. He’d appeared to have found a home in Arizona after steadily developing his game while on a rookie contract for the New York Giants. And based on the Cardinals largely running back names from last year’s offensive line, it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise to see more fortifications coming. If Hernandez can finish what he started last year, it may be a key upgrade for the Cardinals.

When Hernandez first announced he was cleared for action, I put together a list of three destinations where he could be afforded the chance to start. Arizona made the list:

“The idea of returning to Arizona is an interesting one. Hernandez was obviously good enough to start there last year before injury stuck. The team has youngster Isaiah Adams poised to step up as a Day 2 draft choice in 2024. Only the Cardinals currently know what Hernandez was at in their scheme last year versus where they believe Adams is currently at in his development.

But if the Cardinals don’t like that answer, they could potentially go back to the well and try to run things back with Hernandez again in 2025.”

— Kyle Crabbs on July 31st

The Cardinals will now indeed see if Hernandez can push 2024 third-round draft choice Isaiah Adams off of a starting spot. To date, Arizona’s new names on the offensive line this year included Royce Newman, Jake Curhan, McClendon Curtis, Sincere Haynesworth, and rookies Hayden Connor (sixth-round) & Jeremiah Byers (UDFA).

You’re not exactly looking at a lot of competition to start. Hernandez changes that, which is what makes his addition at this stage of the off-season a no-brainer decision for the Cardinals. Perhaps he doesn’t return fully to form. But if he does, he’ll make sure one of Arizona’s young linemen has nothing handed to him and, potentially, upgrade a starting spot along the way.

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