The Arizona Cardinals have reached an agreement with starting center Hjalte Froholdt on a two-year contract extension worth $20 million, as reported by multiple outlets citing NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The extension, confirmed Tuesday by sources, will keep Froholdt under contract with the Cardinals through the 2028 season.

Froholdt, who was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2026 season, has been a mainstay on Arizona's offensive line since joining the team in 2023. According to TSN, he has started all 17 games in each of the past three seasons, a streak that Sports Illustrated describes as 51 consecutive starts in the desert. Heavy. reported that he has not missed a start since 2023, comprising 51 consecutive games.

"He's started all 51 games played in the desert and has largely provided availability and high level of play," as Sports Illustrated wrote, emphasizing his importance to the unit. Froholdt's consistency came during a season when the offensive line struggled as a whole—Heavy. noted that opposing defenders sacked the Cardinals' quarterback 59 times in 2025, an issue attributed largely to injuries and inconsistent play elsewhere on the line.

Froholdt's Journey

The 30-year-old Froholdt was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of the University of Arkansas. He spent his entire rookie season on the sidelines with a shoulder injury, according to Heavy. After a stint as a reserve lineman with New England, a period that included practice squad stops, he landed with the Cleveland Browns in 2021. He played 17 games (six starts) for the Browns in 2022 before hitting free agency.

The Cardinals signed Froholdt in 2023, and he has been a constant presence since. TSN notes that he has appeared in 82 games with 57 starts across six seasons with the Patriots, Browns, and Cardinals. Pro Football Focus credited him with 1,121 snaps at center last season, during which he committed five penalties and gave up just one sack, as reported by Heavy.

The extension marks a turnaround from the years of bouncing around practice squads. Froholdt shared his perspective at the start of training camp, according to Sports Illustrated: "I'm playing the game that I love. I get to share cool experiences with a lot of pretty awesome people, and I get to play as a Cardinal. So I'm pretty stoked about that."

The rest of the Line

Froholdt is "slated to start at center in 2026," per TSN, giving the Cardinals a steady anchor heading into the season. The interior of the line he will work with is largely intact. Sports Illustrated noted that Paris Johnson Jr. and Isaac Seumalo remain under contract through the 2027 season, and Heavy. projected Paris Johnson to protect Jacoby Brissett's blind side at left tackle.

According to Heavy., Isaac Seumalo will be the starter at left guard in his 11th NFL season, with Isaiah Adams at right guard. The right tackle position, however, appears less settled: while Elijah Wilkinson is listed as the starter, he ranked 57th out of 89 qualified linemen. The line also lost Chase Bisontis to a season-ending knee injury, according to Heavy.

The unit that gave up 59 sacks last season will be led by a new head coach, Mike LaFleur, who is in his first year at the helm, as noted by Sports Illustrated. Froholdt welcomed LaFleur's approach, telling Sports Illustrated: "He's kind of like a crazy offensive coordinator mentality, like he goes in, stops everything, and just starts teaching. It's so fun to have that."

With Froholdt locked in at center, the Cardinals have a dependable piece at the foundation of their line as they aim to protect the quarterback more effectively in 2026.