Cardinals selected UCLA G Jon Gaines with the No. 122 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Gaines (6’4/308) was a 3-star recruit, and the 152nd-ranked offensive tackle in the 2018 recruiting class, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, according to 247 Sports. As with many interior linemen, Gaines never gained traction on the roster as a bookend and transitioned to the inside to take advantage of his size and decent length. Nevertheless, the veteran lineman saw starts at 4 different positions across the line during his time at UCLA. In the passing game, he has active hands and feet that work well in tandem to reestablish his leverage despite below-average core strength. However, he is heavily built throughout his well-distributed frame and moves well considering his heft. He won’t necessarily drive defenders into the stands, but he will effectively seal lanes behind him to pop big gains. With time and coaching to teach him how to settle his feet to generate power, he can become a regular contributor at the next level.
