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Three NFL teams that could make Will Hernandez a starter again after veteran guard is cleared to return from 2024 ACL injury

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Kyle Crabbs | Last updated Jul 31, 2025 11:59 AM ET

With the calendar poised to turn to August, the free agent market still offers some promising names that have made strong contributions in recent years as starting talent. Each individual left on the market is there for their own unique reasons — be it age, background, or medical. The latter is the case for guard Will Hernandez, who had been a steadily ascending starter throughout the course of his 20's.

Hernandez tore his ACL last season with the Cardinals, costing him all but five games of the 2024 season. It was the first time in Hernandez's seven-year career that he'd played in less than 13 games. Hernandez recently announced that he's been fully cleared from that ACL injury and subsequent rehab, putting a potential starter on the market with all 32 teams now into training camp.

Which teams should be kicking the tires? Here are three teams on which Hernandez could feasibly start this season.

The Cincinnati Bengals

The current guard situation in Cincinnati features third-round rookie Dylan Fairchild competing with (and leading?) Cordell Volson on one side of the center and Cody Ford & Lucas Patric k on the other. A healthy Hernandez, based on his five games of play last season, would be a more sturdy option than any of these names for 2025. Fairchild, a top-100 draft choice, obviously has a high ceiling. But is he ready to be that guy from the jump for Joe Burrow?

This feels like the destination for Hernandez that can be a "have your cake and eat it, too" spot. The Bengals are a team that can compete and add more depth to their offensive line by signing a prospective starter in Hernandez to push their potential starters into appropriate roles. Despite his heavyweight frame, he's been well graded in pass protection in recent years — and we know how much the Bengals love to throw the football.

Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

The Seattle Seahawks

Seattle's reimagining offensive football in just about every way this offseason versus what it looked like in 2024. There's a new offensive coordinator. A new quarterback. There's new weapons in the pass game — Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf, and Noah Fant are all out. And, of course, there's new names up front. First round draft choice Grey Zabel figures to be the centerpiece of a reimagined offensive line. But the whole group is relatively inexperienced — the interior offensive line is filled with young guns.

Entering the NFL in 2023: Anthony Bradford (OG), Olu Oluwatimi (C)
Entering the NFL in 2024: Christian Haynes (OG), Sataoa Laumea (OG), Jalen Sundell (C)
Entering the NFL in 2025: Grey Zabel (OL), Bryce Cabeldue (OL), Federico Maranges (C)

Someone like Hernandez would give Seattle the same punch they're looking for off the ball but also a little bit of key experience in a unit that has next to none.

Arizona Cardinals guard Isaiah Adams (74) and offensive tackle Jeremiah Byers (67) perform a drill during training camp July 27, 2025.© Michael Chow/The Rep

The Arizona Cardinals

The idea of returning to Arizona is an interesting one. Hernandez was obviously good enough to start there last year before injury stuck. The team has youngster Isaiah Adams poised to step up as a Day 2 draft choice in 2024. Only the Cardinals currently know what Hernandez was at in their scheme last year versus where they believe Adams is currently at in his development.

But if the Cardinals don't like that answer, they could potentially go back to the well and try to run things back with Hernandez again in 2025.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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