The Cardinals’ rookie who should be getting more attention

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 01: Chase Bisontis of the Texas A&M Aggies participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 01, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Arizona Cardinals had a very good draft this year. By taking RB Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick, all the tools that incoming head coach Mike LaFleur needs for his new offensive scheme are in place.

LaFleur is an offensive coach and had particular requirements going into free agency and April's draft.

RELATED: ESPN RANKS CARDINALS #6 IN OFFENSIVE WEAPONS

If you haven't noticed, the Cardinals are stacked with offensive personnel. ESPN only brought that to everyone's attention. Now, how will the changes alter the course of this year's schedule and ultimately the win-loss column?

WRs Kendrick Bourne and Devin Duvernay were signed in free agency, while another receiver, Reggie Virgil, was drafted out of Texas Tech. These will be melded with Michael Wilson, Marv Harrison, and Simi Fehoko. Of course, Arizona employs one of the best tight ends in the league with Trey McBride.

But LaFleur's offense needed some vagaries. Alterations. Modifications. Changes.

Editor's note: We had to look up vagaries." We just look smart.

It all began with the offensive line. It had several issues.

Right tackle was a particular problem. So were both offensive guard spots. Later, when LT Paris Johnson became injured, Kelvin Beachum was inserted. Ick. It's no big secret why he is still unemployed.

OG is NG

Both left and right guards were no good."

Will Hernandez was supposed to start at right guard after returning to the roster, but he began the season on the PUP list as he got back to playing shape. Which seemed to be okay, because Isaiah Adams was the darling of the preseason and training camp and appeared to sew up the starting position.

The plan was for Adams to be the starter at right guard and Evan Brown to be at the left guard spot until Hernandez was healthy, and then get him on the practice field and see where he was at physically.

Adams started in Week 1. But it soon became clear that Adams played really well against other teams' second and third string guys, but struggled when the big boys suited up. He was bull rushed easily and had an issue remaining engaged with his defender.

It was just a few short seasons ago that Brown was an asset to the O-Line. But this past season, early on, he looked overwhelmed, and his on-field performance declined quite a bit. Brown was ranked the 61st-best guard out of 81 eligible players. He had family issues that needed his complete focus, but his play was just sub-par.

When Hernandez returned and was ready to play, he supplanted Adams in Week 5, and it was deemed better late than never with the hope that the offensive line could recover. However, his comeback was cut short. He was placed on IR with hip and knee injuries on November 29.

Adams was thrown back into the starting right guard position with an opportunity to show what he had learned since the beginning of the year and finish the season in the same role.

With both guards playing poorly, Johnson and Williams were out at the tackle spots listed on IR. The offensive line was a combination of second-stringers and practice squad guys. At season's end, this group was ranked #26. That's out of 32 for anyone scoring at home.

The new guys

After losing 14 games, it was evident that the head coach and the majority of his coaching staff were headed for the unemployment line.

LaFleur and his new OC, Nathaniel Hackett, took a looksy at the offensive line situation and highlighted several changes to be made. Center? Good. Left tackle? Check. Ummm....

Yeah, it was that bad. The offense will only go as far as the offensive line will take them. That is a known fact. It's more than just being big. It's greater than being a stud in college football. The NFL is a completely different level, and offensive linemen take a while to grow into their positions.

Defensive tackles are bigger and, over time, develop girth. Defensive ends are quicker with a great first step. In college, some of these guys saw maybe three defenders that they struggled with. In the NFL, the defensive starter is good, and his backup is also good. Plus, every team's defensive line rotates guys in every contest, whereas offensive linemen play every snap. This means their defenders have time to rest, hydrate, get warm, or sit in shade, and only play percentages of each game.

So, while a guy like Myles Garrett is getting all those sacks, he played 82% of all defensive snaps last season in his record-breaking year. The year before? 76%. The offensive tackles he attacked? 100% of reps. No rest for the weary.

First off in free agency, Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort signed the best available guard with former Pittsburgh Steelers left guard Isaac Seumalo. Then, he snagged the versatile Matt Pryor, who can play every position. A true right tackle was also signed, with Elijah Wilkinson, and a key backup in Oli Udoh.

It was assumed for over a month that Ossenfort would select OT/OG Francis Mauigoa out of Miami. But Love was the choice instead.

The offensive line suddenly appeared in a much better place. Holdovers Johnson would start at left tackle, along with veteran center Hjalte Froholdt.

By signing the players he did in free agency, and then passing on Mauigoa, it opened up the college draft so that Ossenfort did not have to be pressured to take an offensive lineman, although it was a given that he would. Just who, which position, and in what rounds, was the only query.

Right tackle now had two good candidates. Behind Johnson are Christian Jones and Josh Fryar. Hayden Conner fits snug behind Froholdt as backup center.

Things looked really good for the offensive line. Good character guys, plenty of talent, and paid within the salary cap, Ossenfort had done his job to this point.

In the first round of the 2026 NFL draft, six offensive tackles and three offensive guards were taken. The Cardinals had the second slot in Round 2. The New York Jets traded the first pick in the second round to the San Francisco 49ers. Sensing one of their starting receivers, Brandon Aiyuk, wasn't going to return, they selected WR De'Zhaun Stribling.

There were plenty of big names on the board, such as LBs Zion Young and Jacob Rodriguez, and guys who were not in a position of need, like WR Denzel Boston or CB Colton Hood.

With the 34^th pick in the 2026 NFL draft, the Arizona Cardinals select Chase Bisontis, offensive guard, Texas A&M."

The remainder of this year's draft could have shut down right then. Ossenfort had nailed the draft. Arizona's own mix of Bijan Robinson's size, coupled with Jahmyr Gibbs' speed, all rolled into Love, and now a premier guard.

To Bisontis! And beyond!*

*Yes! Our nod to Toy Story 5"

There are numerous positions that take time in the NFL for a rookie to become a starter as a rookie. First-year offensive linemen can start.

At the conclusion of all the OTAs and minicamps, Bisontis has since been penciled in as the starting right guard with Seumalo on the left side. As much experience as Pryor has, and the fact that Adams has been in the league going into his third year, that is a remarkable feat.

The energy @CBisontis brings to the function #BirdGangpic.twitter.com/uqgqw5GEM6

- Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) April 25, 2026

Of course, this is before the first snap of training camp or taking any reps in a preseason game. Time will tell if Bisontis remains there. And he may not. Pryor is a big dude (6'-7", 332 pounds) and is going into his eighth season. He has played a lot of football.

If Bisontis can get through his first NFL training camp unscathed, he is going to be a good one.

Offers so far for 4 Star OT, Chase Bisontis. Where will he go? pic.twitter.com/MaYwNnmCUW

- PMW Graphics (@pmwgraphics) December 21, 2021

He was the Offensive Player of the Year" in his senior year of high school. How often is an offensive lineman recognized with that distinction? 37 major college programs offered him a scholarship. Name a university, and its head coach was knocking on the Bisontis' family front door at some point. He chose Texas A&M, which plays in a tough conference. He was voted to the SEC All-Freshman Team and played in 36 college matches.

At the Combine, since he is a gym rat and loves to lift, he benched 225-pounds a remarkable 29 times.

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He has had a real work ethic and takes a business-like approach to his training and preparation. He loves the game of football, including the offseason training, film study, plus the technique work. He is self-driven. Bisontis knows what it takes to play at a high level.

This kid has short-area quickness and is good at pulling, getting to the second level, plus straight line blocking. Great foot speed for an interior lineman. Core strength and a balanced pass protector. Mirrors well once his hands are engaged. Heavy, accurate hands.

Four sacks allowed in three seasons in a tough conference. That is amazing. Let's type that one more time (for effect): Four sacks allowed in three seasons in the tough SEC.

Chase Bisontis looks like the best IOL so far in drills pic.twitter.com/A6MP27H6Ej

- NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) March 1, 2026

He is strong, has quick feet, and does a nice job staying balanced as a pass blocker to absorb and cover up rushers.

This is a trench eater, and the dude is a stud at a position of need. Come December, Bisontis should compete for NFL All-Rookie Team votes.