The NFL will have a new award in 2025 for an offensive lineman, called the Protector of the Year. There will be certain metrics used to determine that.
But that means we can look at what player on each team is most likely to receive those first honors.
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Pro Football Network ranked the best candidate from each team in terms of being the league’s best protector. For the Arizona Cardinals, unsurprisingly, it was tackle Paris Johnson.
If you want a true dark horse candidate for Protector of the Year, Johnson Jr. might be it. After an average rookie year in 2023, he exploded for the Arizona Cardinals in Year 2, sliding from right tackle back over to his natural position of left tackle. If he continues his level of development, he should be in Pro Bowl consideration by the end of the season.
He should be the Cardinals’ best offensive lineman. He was a highly drafted tackle and had a solid 2024, although his play dipped a bit in the second half of the season before he missed the final three games with a knee injury.
PFN has him 18th in their rankings of linemen likely to win.
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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: NFL Top Protector: Paris Johnson ranked 18th in league