Cardinals’ D.J. Humphries takes last spot in PFF’s 2022 top OT rankings

The Arizona Cardinals were no strangers to spending money this offseason, and did so on Tuesday when the franchise extended offensive tackle D.J. Humphries to an extension through 2025.

Signing Humphries to a deal that guaranteed $34 million, the left tackle will have the all-important job of continuing to protect the quarterback’s blindside.

Much like the veteran tackle, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray was also inked to an extension, this one to the tune of nearly $46 million annually.

Expectations will be a plenty surrounding Humphries and the offensive line, as they will be tasked with keeping Murray upright throughout the duration of the season.

However, in the case of Humphries, Pro Football Focus’ Ben Linsey had the Cardinals left tackle barely making his rankings of the league’s best tackles.

The eighth-year lineman from Florida just cracked the list, taking the final spot at No. 32 as part of Linsey’s ninth tier of tackles, “solid starters.”

Joining him in Tier 9 is the New England Patriots’ Isaiah Wynn at No. 30 and NFC West rival Mike McGlinchey of the San Francisco 49ers at No. 31.

Humphries finally broke through with a Pro Bowl bid this past season.

His PFF grade, however, wasn’t reflecting that. It was 67.5 in 2021, but Linsey sees this season as a chance for Humphries to return to that level of play.

Humphries’ 2021 performance in Arizona aligned more closely with what he had shown in his career prior to 2020 than his career year a season ago. That 2021 season might have come with a Pro Bowl berth, but Humphries actually deserved the Pro Bowl appearance in 2020.

That season, Humphries posted a career-high 88.3 PFF grade.

Despite a drop in form during the 2021 season, Humphries did log his most career snaps last year with 1,138.

With the tackle and the Cardinals having put contract talks to rest, can Humphries return to his 2020 self?

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