Cardinals rookie OT Will Holden has size, speed, smarts

Size, speed and smarts. Typically, that’s the type of triple threat the Cardinals try to target every year in the NFL draft, specifically when they’re interested in adding an offensive lineman.

Fifth-round pick Will Holden doesn’t just check all the boxes, he crushes them.

Not only is he a hulk at 6-feet-7-inches and 311 pounds, but his footwork is exceptional, and how about this for smarts: The tackle was a three-time member of the Academic Honor Roll at Vanderbilt, where he graduated early with a degree in Human and Organizational Development.

A member of the National Honor Roll in high school back in Green Cove Springs, Fla., Holden achieved the rank of Eagle Scout earlier than most and one day aspires to be an FBI agent.

Another thing he has going for him is position flexibility. He can play both left and right tackle and also has college experience inside at both guard spots. That versatility, along with his other qualities, make him a very intriguing addition to Arizona’s O-line.

“I think it is definitely attractive,” Holden said during a conference call with reporters. “It is not every day you get a player like myself. A kid coming out of Vanderbilt who can bend and who is 6-7. There are a lot of tall guys who can play lower, but I think that is going to translate really well with the organization.”

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General Manager Steve Keim couldn’t agree more.

“Extremely smart, versatile, understands the game and is a good technician,” Keim said of Holden. “Really good feet and natural bend for a big man. Went down to the Senior Bowl and played inside and outside. Again, did some nice things and excites us with his position flexibility.”

In Holden and fourth-round pick Dorian Johnson, a tackle out of the University of Pittsburgh who can also play inside and out, the Cardinals just might have found their future replacements for starting tackle Jared Veldheer and perennial Pro Bowl left guard Mike Iupati.

“I think that was the key to it, continuing to add depth to the offensive line and to find guys that have the skill set that could potentially grow into starters,” Keim said. “We all know that you can’t pay everybody. There are three or four guys on our offensive line making some good money and it is good to have some young talent infused at the position. Particularly, guys who love it and more than anything are smart.

“These guys (Holden and Johnson) are really intelligent players and just like we have seen Evan (Boehm) and (Cole) Toner this past offseason, those guys have really transformed their bodies and have worked extremely hard. They are passionate guys, just like these two young men we drafted. Not only are you adding guys who love the game up front, but you are adding guys with positional flexibility. That is so important in today’s NFL because we know we can only take seven or eight into a game. When you do that, if somebody goes down, you have to be able to move bodies around.”

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Holden needs to get stronger before the start of training camp, Keim said, but that shouldn’t be a problem considering all of the chances he has to get strong during the team’s array of offseason workout sessions and mini camps.

His pass blocking could also stand some improvement, but when it comes to run blocking, it’s a major strength for Holden. According to Pro Football Focus, he had a run-block success percentage of 92.4 percent. That was especially helpful this past season when Vanderbilt was in its red-zone offense. The Commodores scored points on 43 of their 46 possessions from inside the 20-yard line.

“I always pride myself on being the smartest because it always starts before the snap,” Holden said. “Obviously, understanding the schemes, understanding the defenses and going from there. I like to run the ball, so run blocking, just powering it down the throat of the defense is always good.”

Getting the chance to block for David Johnson, one of the league’s most electrifying running backs, is more than enticing.

“I think it would be awesome,” Holden said. “It is dynamic so you never know what is going to happen. I am excited. I just want to get on the field, really.”

Reach McManaman at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @azbobbymac and listen to him live every Wednesday night between 7-9 on Fox Sports 910-AM on The Freaks with Kenny and Crash.