Cardinals resign OT Kelvin Beachum to 2-year deal

Steve Keim is running it back at offensive tackle in 2021.

According to numerous reports, the Arizona Cardinals have resigned veteran tackle Kelvin Beachum to a two year contract extension.

Beachum, who was signed as a plan last July after veteran Marcus Gilbert opted out of the 2020 season, was a revelation in his first official year at right tackle. The former 7th round pick finished the season with a PFF grade of 69 that included a pass block mark of 76.8.

He and left tackle D.J. Humphries kept Pro Bowl quarterback Kyler Murray fairly clean during the 2020 campaign. The offensive line, as a whole, gave up the second fewest QB hits in all of football.

Beachum had been a career left tackle with the New York Jets, but made the transition to the right side seamlessly for the redbirds.

No numbers on the extension have been made available at this time.

The fallout of this signing likely affects 2020 third rounder Josh Jones, who is rumored to be moving to guard. Cardinal offensive line coach Sean Kugler made comments recently that the second year player out of Houston had positional flexibility upfront. Combine that with last year’s extension for starter Justin Murray, and it looks as if the Cardinals may part ways with veteran Justin Pugh (cap hit of $11 million).

Releasing Pugh post June 1st would save the Cardinals $9,187,500 against the cap. The Cardinals can also save an additional $1 million if they release Gilbert.

Arizona has also been in the mix for a veteran center to replace Mason Cole, and could have their sights set on the recently released Rodney Hudson.

Hudson, a longtime staple with the Las Vegas Raiders, is 31 years old and allowed a single sack in 2020.

Regardless, it looks as if the Cardinal offensive line (at least at the tackle position) will look fairly similar to 2020.