Cardinals Could Have Hidden Gem in Hjalte Froholdt
The Arizona Cardinals have their roster set for the upcoming summer. Now, it's about finding which players can be contributors and which will eventually turn into starters.
There's some obvious spots that don't require competition - places such as running back where James Conner anchors the backfield and the safety tandem of Budda Baker/Jalen Thompson has the top part of the secondary on lock.
Truth be told, there's not many openings for a starting position along the depth chart, but the retirement of Rodney Hudson earlier this offseason opened up starting center availability.
There's a handful of potential suitors, but it's fair to say Hjalte Froholdt has a good chance to win the job over the summer.
Froholdt wasn't a marquee signing in Arizona. The red carpet wasn't rolled out for him and his jerseys won't exactly be sold out, but there's some buzz that his addition could be one of the more underrated after a so-so tenure with the Cleveland Browns.
At least, Bleacher Report thinks so - mentioning him on their list of potential breakout candidates for players on new teams.
"The 26-year-old Denmark native is now on his fourth squad going into his fourth season. Originally, the New England Patriots selected Froholdt in the fourth round of the 2019 draft. But he needed development and never found a home at one specific position," said Brent Sobleski.
"His role in the desert will be defined as the one calling blocking assignments and snapping to quarterback Kyler Murray. Furthermore, his two seasons with the Cleveland Browns should prove invaluable since the Cardinals' new offensive coordinator, Drew Petzig, previously served as an assistant on the Browns' coaching staff."
Truth be told, there's not a ton of certified competition for the starting center job. Lecitus Smith got some action last year along the offensive line but is still unproven, and the same goes for incoming rookie offensive lineman Jon Gaines III.
However, Froholdt has impressed during his short time in Arizona. Quarterback Colt McCoy, who is the favorite to handle staring duties while Kyler Murray recovers from his torn ACL, had nothing but praise to sing about Froholdt.
"I spend a lot of time with Hjalte waching Browns tape and just out at practice lots of communication. He does a really nice job. He knows the protections he knows the mic points. He knows what we're trying to tackle when we call different runs or passes," McCoy said at OTA's this week.
"He's been a great sounding board for me. He didn't play a whole bunch in Cleveland, but he played a lot especially late in the season. He played different positions on the offensive line, but he's done a really nice job at center and really helped me understand 'Okay, we got a lot more on our plates from a protection standpoint' and he's been great.
"For me, it makes me feel pretty comfortable, right? It's kind of like having Rodney [Hudson] out there. I'm not comparing those two guys, but Rodney was the same way. He had this demeanor about him that, 'I'm gonna make it right up front, if you see something else that's all you.' Right. I kind of feel the same way in the operation with Hjalte."
Certainly lofty expectations to be mentioned in the same breath as Hudson, who was once considered one of the top centers in the league.
The man himself - who carries the sweet nickname of the "Danish Army Knife", says he's just trying to do his job.
"It's important to be plug-and-play and not let those standards fall too much," Froholdt said earlier this week. "I take a lot of pride in knowing all my assignments. I take a lot of pride in that."
We'll see what transpires when the pads are on and live action football is presented. Yet for now, Froholdt appears to have a pretty good handle on the starting center spot - and there's potential for him to be pretty solid in the middle, too.
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