Cardinals offensive tackle D.J. Humphries (74) will likely begin offseason work on the left side.
The Cardinals are confident they will have two good offensive tackles for 2017, but the way offensive coordinator – and offensive line coach – Harold Goodwin sees it, those tackles will swap roles from the ones they started with last season.
Goodwin said right now, he'd like to see D.J. Humphries move to left tackle permanently and Jared Veldheer – who missed the second half of the season with a torn triceps muscle – move from the left side to the right side.
"Going into the offseason, it's probably a thing that we may just stick to and see what happens," Goodwin said on
Thursday night's edition of the "Big Red Rage."
"Jared is a team player, D.J. is a team player, so I'm sure we're going to have a little coach-to-player conversation, but right now, throwing it out there of my own accord, I think D.J. at left and Jared at right and we're rolling and kicking butt."
Humphries, the team's No. 1 pick in 2015, had been a left tackle his whole career. But after being inactive his entire rookie season, Humphries was the team's right tackle last year with Veldheer – the team's marquee 2014 free-agent signee specifically to fill the void at left tackle -- entrenched on the left side.
Veldheer got hurt Oct. 30 in Carolina, eight games into the season. The Cards left Humphries on the right side for a game, and tried John Wetzel as Veldheer's replacement. The following week, Goodwin went to Humphries.
"I said, 'D.J., what do you think about left tackle?' And it was like Christmas," Goodwin said. "He lit up. I can't tell you (exactly) what he said, but he basically said, 'Are you screwing with me?' I said 'No.' He goes, 'In a heartbeat.' Just his smoothness, the punch, the feet, everything looked natural."
Humphries played left tackle until he suffered a concussion in Miami, ending his season with three games remaining.
The day after the season ended, both players addressed the looming question of who would play left tackle. Veldheer admitted he preferred to play on the left side, while Humphries – clearly understanding his place in the packing order – wasn't quite as direct.
"It was fun," Humphries said of his time on the left side. "Interesting to see how it plays out from here, though."
Said Veldheer of a potential move, "It's something I have thought about, and I will ask around and try and get a feel about that. I will prepare myself for however I need to prepare myself in the offseason."
Either way, the Cardinals believe they will benefit.
"As far as our starting tackles, we should have two of the best in the league," Goodwin said.
Images of the Cardinals celebrating big plays during the season
![WR J.J. Nelson after his touchdown against Washignton](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/jwbs411kktyajluapcod.jpg)
WR J.J. Nelson after his touchdown against Washignton
![RB Kerwynn Williams scores a touchdown against the Saints](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/urfu5wl2qww4gnwqf1u9.jpg)
RB Kerwynn Williams scores a touchdown against the Saints
![RB Chris Johnson celebrates his touchdown against the Buccaneers](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/i7wjursdeiefidrxygoi.jpg)
RB Chris Johnson celebrates his touchdown against the Buccaneers
![WR J.J. Nelson after his touchdown catch in Seattle](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/q8xkqatjnfwkreworjve.jpg)
WR J.J. Nelson after his touchdown catch in Seattle
![OT D.J. Humphries celebrates RB Chris Johnson's touchdown against the Bucs](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/mbrxc5tysb1uvhotwgrc.jpg)
OT D.J. Humphries celebrates RB Chris Johnson's touchdown against the Bucs
![WR Jaron Brown reacts after scoring a touchdown against Tampa Bay](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/yalx5ydt2bf86mlgnbgo.jpg)
WR Jaron Brown reacts after scoring a touchdown against Tampa Bay
![TE Jermaine Gresham congratulated by WR Larry Fitzgerald after a touchdown against the Vikings](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/xni1fpeh7zvj5opxkn8t.jpg)
TE Jermaine Gresham congratulated by WR Larry Fitzgerald after a touchdown against the Vikings
![RB David Johnson scores a TD against the 49ers](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/ds54aw7mefsvmdvdli9x.jpg)
RB David Johnson scores a TD against the 49ers
![C A.Q. Shipley against the Patriots](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/hcuaxyjezrvxdgibzro2.jpg)
C A.Q. Shipley against the Patriots
![RB David Johnson with another touchdown against the Jets](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/nimjertwhnyk50guctfa.jpg)
RB David Johnson with another touchdown against the Jets
![RB David Johnson is engulfed by teammates after a long run against the Patriots](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/nulgldyhtevzv6o6ltbi.jpg)
RB David Johnson is engulfed by teammates after a long run against the Patriots
![WR J.J. Nelson is congratulated by WR Larry Fitzgerald after a touchdown against Washington](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/dfsevuwbz3yrnwfbetmx.jpg)
WR J.J. Nelson is congratulated by WR Larry Fitzgerald after a touchdown against Washington
![WR Larry Fitzgerald after a touchdown against the 49ers](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/zmnshf0t4diiifq0sj5v.jpg)
WR Larry Fitzgerald after a touchdown against the 49ers
![OC Harold Goodwin hugs RB David Johnson after a TD against the Jets](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/mvdboot8jqmn3iwkeau5.jpg)
OC Harold Goodwin hugs RB David Johnson after a TD against the Jets
![RB David Johnson and WR J.J. Nelson hug after a touchdown against the Vikings](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/u3fd4brlzpru0s5pcrea.jpg)
RB David Johnson and WR J.J. Nelson hug after a touchdown against the Vikings
![WR Larry Fitzgerald and WR Jaron Brown celebrate a touchdown against Tampa Bay](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/lbv0yhkn1bzhwtwkw1vh.jpg)
WR Larry Fitzgerald and WR Jaron Brown celebrate a touchdown against Tampa Bay
![WR Larry Fitzgerald gets a hug from WR Smokey Brown after a touchdown in Los Angeles](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/f7vv9ibzwkevslfycy5n.jpg)
WR Larry Fitzgerald gets a hug from WR Smokey Brown after a touchdown in Los Angeles
![LT Jared Veldheer (left) and WR Larry Fitzgerald celebrate a touchdown against the Patriots](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/kvhmdrn3qnggwdctk7li.jpg)
LT Jared Veldheer (left) and WR Larry Fitzgerald celebrate a touchdown against the Patriots
![WR J.J. Nelson after his touchdown in Carolina](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/iy5gx4nzcownyytvpay1.jpg)
WR J.J. Nelson after his touchdown in Carolina
![A joyous Larry Fitzgerald hugs RB David Johnson after a touchdown against the 49ers](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/vwbec3q4rlmw7zonq6tc.jpg)
A joyous Larry Fitzgerald hugs RB David Johnson after a touchdown against the 49ers
![WR John Brown and WR Larry Fitzgerald celebrate after Brown's touchdown against the Saints](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/vpend4wruzozdw72x0vz.jpg)
WR John Brown and WR Larry Fitzgerald celebrate after Brown's touchdown against the Saints
![WR Brittan Golden celebrates a touchdown against the Dolphins](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/vgvakm31n5foqonjdjyf.jpg)
WR Brittan Golden celebrates a touchdown against the Dolphins
![WR Jeremy Ross after his touchdown in Los Angeles](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/pu4vt4s6t5wqgkvqrzud.jpg)
WR Jeremy Ross after his touchdown in Los Angeles
![RB David Johnson celebrates his touchdown in Buffalo with OT D.J. Humphries](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/wq9a20hbi3xkuisntfwy.jpg)
RB David Johnson celebrates his touchdown in Buffalo with OT D.J. Humphries
![WR Larry Fitzgerald and G Earl Watford celebrate a touchdown against the Patriots](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/qwpgyrhztub9vvkquocx.jpg)
WR Larry Fitzgerald and G Earl Watford celebrate a touchdown against the Patriots
![OT D.J. Humphries congratulates RB David Johnson after a touchdown against the 49ers](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/cardinals/dtbv2pzfsf8q5kowlvwr.jpg)
OT D.J. Humphries congratulates RB David Johnson after a touchdown against the 49ers