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Arizona Cardinals: Mason Cole now the man at center

By George Stockburger

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 01: Michigan offensive lineman Mason Cole speaks to the media during NFL Combine press conferences at the Indiana Convention Center on March 1, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 01: Michigan offensive lineman Mason Cole speaks to the media during NFL Combine press conferences at the Indiana Convention Center on March 1, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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The Arizona Cardinals third-round pick has a unique opportunity in front of him

The injury bug continues to strike, and on Monday it hit Arizona Cardinals veteran center A.Q. Shipley. Out for the season with a torn ACL, Shipley’s lost season is now rookie Mason Cole’s opportunity to solidify himself as an NFL starter.

Coming out of Michigan Cole played all four seasons across the offensive line, a rarity in today’s football environment. A three-time All-Big Ten player, Cole primarily played left tackle and filled in as an interior lineman for the Wolverines, making 13 of his 51 career starts at center.

He’s crazy athletic and can move despite his size, a key trait for a young lineman coming out of a pro style system at Michigan.

Shipley, a six-year veteran out of Penn State, certainly won’t be an easy man to replace. He solidified himself as the Cardinals starter, making all 32 starts over the last two seasons.

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Luckily, Cole will be working between veteran guards Justin Pugh, a five-year vet who signed a five-year $45 million deal to join Arizona, and Mike Iupati, an eight-year vet coming off his own season-ending injury last year.

This could also be an opportunity for Arizona to grow up the middle after drafting a new man to play under center. Josh Rosen has an opportunity to beat veteran Sam Bradford for the starting job, or at least take over if and when Bradford is injured this year.

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Arizona traded a third and fifth-round pick to move up five spots in the 2018 NFL Draft to select Rosen out of UCLA. The former Bruin is known as the most pro-ready quarterback in the rookie class, and getting chemistry between the two rookies for a decade-long run could be key.

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