Arizona Cardinals General Manager Monti Ossenfort
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 24: General manager Monti Ossenfort of the Arizona Cardinals speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
The Arizona Cardinals are in desperate need of offensive line help.
Despite signing guard Isaac Seumalo in free agency, along with other depth names, it may not be enough for a team that gave up 59 sacks in 2025.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, former Northwestern offensive lineman Caleb Tiernan scheduled a top-30 visit with Arizona before the draft.
The 6-foot-8, 323-pound behemoth just played his fifth season with the Wildcats, where he appeared in 13 games.
Tiernan has primarily played left tackle since 2023. However, he did play at right tackle early in his college career.
What Would Tiernan Bring to the Arizona Cardinals?
At the 2026 NFL draft combine in February, Tiernan had a 35.5-inch vertical leap and a 9-foot-3 broad jump. The vertical would be the best among offensive linemen.
NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein’s evaluation of Tiernan was that he’ll be an average starter.
“Highly experienced college tackle who is likely to kick inside due to a lack of length that affects his protection projection,” Zierlein wrote.
His hand and arm measure just 9 and 32.25 inches, respectively, both small for an offensive lineman, leading to his likely shift from tackle to guard.
“Tiernan is tall but carries the denseness of frame and core strength of a guard. Feet feature good initial quickness, and he takes excellent angles on the move. He often finds early positioning advantages as a base blocker but lacks the anchor and play strength to consistently fortify/sustain. ‘Solid’ feels like the ceiling for Tiernan as a guard/swing tackle who can eventually elevate into a starting role.”
In 2024, Tiernan was an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Conference offensive lineman.
Tiernan also brings great leadership skills as he was a team captain during the 2025 season and Second-team All-Big Ten.
Tiernan has been projected as a second or third-round pick this draft.
How Would Tiernan Fit in the Desert?
Adding depth to the offensive line is key for the Cardinals after struggling through poor play and injuries in 2025. Returning center Hjalte Froholdt was the only Cardinals starting offensive lineman to appear in every game last year.
After the departure of right tackles Jonah Williams and Kelvin Beachum, right tackle will be a major hole in 2026.
Elijah Wilkinson is currently at the top of the depth chart, per ESPN.
The projected starting lineup includes Paris Johnson Jr. (left tackle), Seumalo (left guard), Froholdt (center), Isaiah Adams (right guard) and Elijah Wilkinson (right tackle).
While Johnson Jr., Seumalo and Froholdt’s starting jobs are likely set in stone barring any significant developments, the right side of the offensive line is likely to force competition.
Adams and Wilkinson both graded below-average at their respective positions in 2025.
While Miami’s highly-coveted offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa is being heavily mocked to the Cardinals, Tiernan could be a fit in the second round if Arizona decides to go with a transformational pass rusher with their No. 3 overall pick.
Another fit would be Utah’s Spencer Fano, who is a projected early first-round pick.
Regardless of which way they go in the 2026 draft, the Cardinals need to improve their offensive and defensive lines early after a franchise-worst season in 2025.