Arizona Cardinals, OG Will Hernandez agree to 1-year contract

The Arizona Cardinals signed guard Will Hernandez to a one-year contract, the team announced Monday.

Hernandez visited the Cardinals facility Sunday, per Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro.

The 2018 second-round draft pick (No. 34) out of UTEP is entering his fifth NFL season after spending the first four with the New York Giants.

Hernandez played under UTEP’s then-head coach Sean Kugler, who is currently the Cardinals’ offensive line coach and run game coordinator.

Outside of his two-game absence while on the COVID-19 list and not seeing the field in the season finale, Hernandez has played in every NFL game (62) since he first made it to the league in 2018. Of those games played, he started 56.

Adding another guard to the mix is among the top priorities for the Cardinals this offseason.

While the offensive line features starting center Rodney Hudson, left guard Justin Pugh and tackles D.J. Humphries and Kelvin Beachum, there’s a hole to fill at right guard.

Josh Jones originally had a grasp on the starting right guard spot following a training camp competition with Brian Winters and Justin Murray. Winters ended up being released while Murray suffered a back injury that sidelined him for most of the season.

But after Jones underwhelmed in the role, he was swapped out for Max Garcia, who spent the offseason working behind Hudson at center and is a free agent this offseason.

And while Hernandez has played most of his snaps at left guard, he did spend some on the right side in 2021.

The Cardinals’ current pool of guards includes Pugh, Jones, Murray and Sean Harlow.

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