Former Buckeyes OL Pat Elflein Finds New NFL Home

Pat Elflein will have a chance to start for the Arizona Cardinals in 2023.

Former Ohio State offensive lineman Pat Elflein is on the move again. This time, he hopes his stay in the desert is for the long haul. 

The Arizona Cardinals announced the signing of Elflein to their 90-man roster for the start of training camp. Elflein, 29, will compete for the starting center job for the NFC West franchise for the 2023 season. 

A six-year veteran, Elflein has started 64 of 65 career NFL games at either center or guard since entering the league in 2017. Drafted in the third round by the Minnesota Vikings, Elflein spent four seasons in the Land of 10,000 Lakes before being traded to the New York Jets during the 2020 season. He would later join the Carolina Panthers in 2021.

Elflein started the first six games in Carolina during the 2022 season before being placed on the injured reserve due to a hip injury. He's considered a hybrid offensive lineman, starting 40 games at center and 24 games at left guard during his NFL tenure. 

Arizona views Elflein as a potential starter due to experience, but the new coaching staff led by Johnathan Gannon won't give him the job. He's expected to split first-team reps with Hjalte Froholdt and rookie Jon Gaines II, though he could also earn the starting left guard job over Elijah Wilkinson or Dennis Daley. 

A staple of the Buckeyes' trenches during the Urban Meyer era, Elflein started three seasons between left guard, right guard and center. He was a three-time first-team All-Big Ten member and a Unanimous All-American in 2016. After transitioning to center for his senior season, Elflein won the Rimington Award, given to the best college center.  

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