The Arizona Cardinals spent big on free agent offensive lineman Jonah Williams in a move that effectively ended the D.J. Humphries Era. A first-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Florida product spent the majority of the past 10 years playing left tackle, although he does have some experience on the right side of the line. While he had a rough start to his career, Humphries eventually developed into a reliable starter and even earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2021.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and the Cardinals made D.J. Humphries a free agent in a rather unceremonious manner. After tearing his ACL in the penultimate matchup of the season, Arizona released him with a failed physical designation. They also made him a post-June 1st cut, resulting in $16 million in savings.
Cardinals will cut OT D.J. Humphries, per @TomPelissero pic.twitter.com/7XzyT0F57T
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) March 13, 2024
Cardinals Cut D.J. Humphries, Could Find New Free Agent Home
There are not enough good offensive tackles in the league, but that doesn’t mean D.J. Humphries will immediately sign as a free agent. First and foremost, the former first-round pick needs to prove that he’s healthy. Now entering his age-31 season, the offensive tackle is on the back nine of his career and needs to prove that his ACL is fully recovered before he signs a new deal.
Secondly, even if he was healthy, D.J. Humphries would probably have to compete for a starting job as a free agent. According to Pro Football Focus, Humphries finished the season with the 51st-best grade of out 81 eligible tackles. This shows that he belongs in the NFL and is a borderline starter when healthy, but he’s no longer a Pro Bowl-caliber player.
With all that being said, somebody will sign D.J. Humphries as a free agent once he’s healthy. Thanks to his experience on the right side of the offensive line, the former first-round pick has the potential to start at either tackle spot. There are 64 starting tackle jobs in the NFL, which is more than the amount of starting-caliber tackles in the game. Whether he’s brought in to compete for a job or just keep the ship afloat, these five teams should be interested in bringing him in.
Best Team Fits
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots have brought back a lot of their own players, but they have yet to bring in much outside help on offense. While Mike Onwenu can handle right tackle, somebody is going to need to step up on the left side to protect New England’s next quarterback. While Tyron Smith would be a better fit, D.J. Humphries could play the role in a pinch, and he could also play right tackle if the Patriots want to permanently keep Onwenu at guard.
Kansas City Chiefs
Four of Kansas City’s five starting positions are set in stone. Left tackle, however, is wide open. While the Chiefs found a way to win the Super Bowl with Donovan Smith at tackle, they sure didn’t win it because of him. Patrick Mahomes recently restructured his contract to create cap space, so maybe Kansas City is planning a big signing. However, if that money is going to someone else, then they can get by with a cost-effective free agent starter like D.J. Humphries
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans have done a remarkable job of building around Will Levis. With Calvin Ridley, Lloyd Cushenberry, and Tony Pollard in town, the only major need left on offense is at offensive tackle. While the team will likely draft one in the first round, Tennessee could also sign D.J. Humphries as a free agent. In the short-term, Humphries can step in at tackle if the rookie isn’t ready, and if the rookie hits the ground running, then Tennessee can have Humphries back up both tackle positions.
New Orleans Saints
Derek Carr handles pressure worse than just about any other starting quarterback, so if the Saints want to win games, they’ll need to get a better left tackle. Unfortunately, they don’t have the money to go after Tyron Smith, so they might as well sign D.J. Humphries as a free agent. While he’s far from perfect, he should be an upgrade on the disappointing Trevor Penning.
Los Angeles Chargers
Rashawn Slater is one of the best left tackles in the NFL, but the Chargers right tackle position could use some work. After releasing Mike Williams and having Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack restructure their deals, Los Angeles is below the salary cap, but they still don’t have that much money to work with. Rather than breaking the bank for a top dollar option, the team could sign D.J. Humphries to be a stopgap free agent and address the position during the 2024 NFL Draft.
Main Photo: Mark J. Rebilas – USA Today Sports
