Arizona Cardinals release backup center Lamont Gaillard

It’s been a turnstile at the center position for the Arizona Cardinals over the past two years, and while an offseason trade for veteran Rodney Hudson gave them a certified starter, the position group continued to turn over Wednesday as training camp looms.

The team announced it released third-year pro Lamont Gaillard, who made two starts in 2020.

Gaillard played 219 offensive snaps in his second season after not appearing as a rookie and had his ups and downs along with starter Mason Cole. Offensive line coach and run game coordinator Sean Kugler alluded to a center shakeup before Arizona in March traded a third-round pick to the Las Vegas Raiders for Hudson and a seventh-round draft choice.

The Cardinals followed that move by shipping Cole to the Minnesota Vikings for a sixth-round pick, which at the time slotted Gaillard as Hudson’s backup.

With Gaillard now gone, the No. 2 center job could be between 2021 seventh-round pick Michal Menet and veteran guard Max Garcia, who has experience at the position.

“When you look at a seventh-round pick and an offensive lineman, you look at certain traits and this guy has great leadership skills,” Cardinals general manager Steve Keim said after selecting Menet with the team’s last draft pick.

“Very good technician, very instinctive and smart for the position. Two-time team captain says a lot, especially coming from a program like Penn State.”

Gaillard was a sixth-round pick by the Cardinals in 2019.

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