The veteran lineman, who has spent over a decade in the NFL, remains a valuable presence in the trenches as he enters the later stages of his career. The former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle is set to continue his career with the Arizona Cardinals after signing a contract extension with the team.
He has played in 179 career games, with 161 starts, proving to be a durable and experienced option for every team he has suited up for. His time in Pittsburgh spanned four seasons, where he played 44 games and started 39 after being selected by the Steelers in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft out of SMU.
Following his tenure with Pittsburgh, Kelvin Beachum explored free agency and signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2016, spending one season with the team before moving on to the New York Jets in 2017. His three-year stint with the Jets allowed him to showcase his ability as a consistent starter, leading to a free-agent deal with the Arizona Cardinals in 2020. Since then, he has signed multiple short-term contracts with the team, reinforcing their offensive line depth year after year.
For the Steelers, Beachum’s decision to stay in Arizona marks a missed opportunity. His veteran experience and leadership could have been invaluable to Pittsburgh’s young and developing offensive line, which now lacks a proven presence to guide its inexperienced players. The absence of such a stabilizing force may result in discipline issues down the road, especially in a unit that requires cohesion and reliability.
However, it’s worth noting that concerns about Beachum’s size have followed him since his college Pro Day, and at 35 years old, age remains a factor for any player in the physically demanding NFL trenches. Despite these potential drawbacks, Beachum’s return to Arizona should provide the Cardinals with much-needed stability and depth along their offensive front as they prepare for the upcoming season.
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