Cardinals Are “Grateful to Have” New OL
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian believes Christian Jones will only get better for the Arizona Cardinals throughout his career.
Arizona On the third day of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals selected Christian Jones, an offensive tackle for the Texas Longhorns. This selection may pay off in the long run.
With Paris Johnson Jr. and Jonah Williams in the mix, Jones won’t be expected to start right away, but he could be worth it in the long run.
Following Jones’ selection, Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian had the following to say:
In a statement, Sarkisian said, “Arizona got a great player and person, and a guy with a very bright future in the NFL” (h/t On3).
“During his three years with us, I saw Christian grow more than anyone else. He started his career as a left tackle before switching to the right side, where he really found his niche in years two and three. He has started three seasons overall. Kyle is a man that Flood put a lot of effort into, and during his tenure here, we witnessed his growth accelerate. The squad and he benefited from that.
“Christian was a man we could truly rely on; he was excellent in the changing room and carried out his duties honorably, which allowed us to witness his skill.
change. He became a very excellent pass protector for us, demonstrated versatility in the run game, and his fundamentals improved. He also gained a deeper understanding of the scheme. He can play both tackle spots at the next level, in my opinion, and because he has the stats necessary for that position, he could even play guard if necessary.
“I believe his finest days are ahead of him since, in comparison to most men, he hasn’t played a lot of football. He still has room to grow as a player, and if he does, he will undoubtedly become a very effective professional player. He is a fantastic player, teammate, and all-around wonderful representative of the Cardinals, and they are fortunate to have him.”
All NFL teams are in search of players with versatility, but Jonathan Gannon and the Cardinals’ coaching staff appear to think highly of multi-tasking athletes.
He was their right tackle and got them a lot of ball starts. A very mature and excellent youngster. He has performed a lots. He is perceptive and wise. Monti Ossenfort, general manager of the Cardinals, expressed excitement in working with Jones.
Jones stated that he was in close communication with Arizona prior to the draft and that he is eager to stop Kyler Murray going forward:
“I also had a Zoom, Senior Bowl, Combine, and contact.” I’ve been watching quarterback Kyler Murray of Arizona for a while because I’m from Texas. It’s been a long, long time, and I’m eager to do all in my power to help Arizona win the (NFC) Championship and a Super Bowl once more,” Jones remarked.
