Cardinals add Brian Winters, re-sign Max Garcia to build OG depth

The Arizona Cardinals added to their offensive line room Monday by agreeing to one-year deals with guards Max Garcia and Brian Winters.

Winters, an eight-year NFL veteran, played 16 games for the Buffalo Bills in 2020, starting nine at guard. A backup, Garcia played 69 offensive snaps and 66 special teams snaps for the Cardinals this past year.

Winters has 105 NFL games of experience with 88 starts for the New York Jets (2013-19) and Bills (2020).

Winters began his first two NFL seasons at left guard but has mostly been on the right side since. With Buffalo last season, he had 616 snaps at right guard.

His resume would indicate Winters could be in the conversation to play a major role or earn the starting job at right guard.

The moves also presumably mean that free agent J.R. Sweezy, who entered last year as the starting right guard, will not return to Arizona.

Justin Murray, who took hold of the starting role last year to make seven starts, is back and also could be in the competition. He played mostly at right guard in 2020 but slid to left guard for 71 snaps.

Run game coordinator and offensive line coach Sean Kugler also mentioned this past month that second-year tackle Josh Jones could slide to guard.

Here’s a rough depth chart for an offensive line room that appears close to completed.

Arizona Cardinals projected offensive line depth

LT: D.J. Humphries, Josh Jones/Joshua Miles

LG: Justin Pugh, Justin Murray/Brian Winters, Max Garcia, Josh Jones (?)

C: Rodney Hudson, Mason Cole, Lamont Gaillard

RG: Justin Murray/Brian Winters, Max Garcia, Josh Jones (?)

RT: Kelvin Beachum, Josh Jones, Joshua Miles, Marcus Gilbert*

*Gilbert missed the 2020 season after opting out with coronavirus concerns. He is under contract but it is unknown if he will play.

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