Cardinals move 2023 first-rounder to new position

Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Cardinals switch up offensive line, move 2023 first-rounder to new position

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 5/20/24

After parting ways with 2023 starting left tackle D.J. Humphries, the Arizona Cardinals have a plan to fill his position.

And no, it doesn’t involve slotting free-agent addition Jonah Williams in Humphries' old spot. Instead, head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed the Cards will move Paris Johnson Jr., the sixth overall pick in the 2023 draft, from right to left tackle.

“I think [the plan is] going to be good,” Gannon told reporters. “Paris playing both (positions), Jonah playing both, we’ll start there and see how it goes. Through the first three weeks on the grass, that’s what they’ve been doing and that’s what they’re both comfortable with right now.”

“He looks smooth, he looks natural.”

Arizona Cardinals center Hjalte Froholdt says Paris Johnson Jr is owning his transition to left tackle. pic.twitter.com/zffHP17Rh6
— PHNX Cardinals (@PHNX_Cardinals) May 20, 2024

Gannon did add he that he wasn’t married to the decision, stating he wouldn’t hesitate to switch either player if he felt the arrangement wasn’t working.

Johnson spent his rookie season on the right side while Humphries manned the left. The 6-foot-6, 313-pounder played 1,129 snaps, surrendering eight sacks and allowing 42 pressures, 26 hurries and eight QB hits, per Pro Football Focus.

Johnson isn’t unfamiliar with playing left tackle, a position at which he excelled at Ohio State during his junior season in 2022. That year, Johnson allowed just 14 pressures, 12 hurries and two sacks while playing 827 offensive snaps, per PFF. The previous year, he played right guard and didn’t allow a sack.

“I know he’s going to thrive out there on the left side.”

Arizona Cardinals RG Will Hernandez jokes he misses Paris Johnson Jr playing right tackle but knows he’ll be great at left tackle. pic.twitter.com/fKWfhzloce
— PHNX Cardinals (@PHNX_Cardinals) May 20, 2024

Williams, on the other hand, has more experience playing left tackle — he saw 3,066 snaps at the position during his four years in Cincinnati —but he looked more comfortable on the right side last season. His sacks surrendered dropped from 13 the previous year to eight, as did his pressures (45 to 41) and hurries allowed (26 to 23).

In addition to switching up his tackles, Gannon also hinted that starting center Hjalte Froholdt could play guard if needed. Froholdt played 1,123 snaps at center last season, allowing 23 pressures, 16 hits and three sacks.

The Cardinals struggled to find consistency at left guard in 2023, rotating Elijah Wilkinson (501 snaps), Trystan Colon (315 snaps), Carter O’Donnell (1170 snaps) and Dennis Daley (140 snaps). Wilkinson and O’Donnell are both tackles, while Colon is a natural center.

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