Cardinals Extend C Hjalte Froholdt

After going from journeyman to full-time starter last season, Hjalte Froholdt has landed an extension. The Cardinals are taking care of their starting center, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reporting the team has an agreement in place with the sixth-year blocker.

This contract, which Froholdt has now signed, runs through 2026. This represents a significant development for Froholdt, a 2019 fourth-round pick already on his fourth team. It is a two-year deal worth $12MM, Rapoport adds, indicating $8MM will be guaranteed.

A 2019 Patriots draftee, Froholdt bounced from New England to Houston to Cleveland during his first four NFL seasons. The Browns stop turned out to be important, as the Cardinals soon hired former Cleveland QBs coach Drew Petzing to be their offensive coordinator. Froholdt signed a two-year, $4.6MM deal with the Cardinals in 2023, and he won their starting center job soon after. Wednesday’s accord provides much better terms for the Danish lineman.

The Svendborg, Denmark, native did not start a game until his fourth season; the Browns used him as a six-game spot starter at center and right guard in 2022. He ended up parlaying that fill-in gig into a Cardinals deal, with the team hiring a new regime in 2023. Going into his age-28 season, Froholdt landed a deal in line with the center position’s middle class. The $6MM AAV places Froholdt in a tie at ninth at the position.

Pro Football Focus slotted Froholdt as the No. 19 overall center last season. After extensive seasoning as a backup prior to 2023, Froholdt started 17 games in his Cardinals debut. The team added former center starter Evan Brown in free agency, but that move was not expected to affect Froholdt’s starter status. This agreement certainly leaves no doubt the Cards will stick with Froholdt, who succeeded Rodney Hudson, at the pivot.

Arizona does not have too much money tied up in its offensive line. The team moved on from longtime left tackle D.J. Humphries, sliding 2023 first-rounder Paris Johnson Jr. to LT to replace him. The Cardinals have Will Hernandez on a two-year, $9MM deal and splurged for Jonah Williams (two years, $30MM) to man the RT spot. The rebuilding team now has signed up for an extended run with Froholdt, who is tied to the club through the 2026 season.