Alex Boone has signed a one-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals, per Ian Rapaport by way of Boone's agent. He was cut by the Vikings in the 53-man cutdown, primarily seen as a surprise by fans and analysts alike.
The Arizona Cardinals primarily run gap schemes — a style opposite to what the Vikings plan to do this year, and according to Jeff Ratcliffe at Pro Football Focus, the Cardinals ran more man/power-type runs than any other team in the league last year.
That said, the Cardinals don't shy away from zone running when situationally appropriate, and have run more zone-style runs with some of their running backs under center. That's something they will expect Boone to do, as they expected of their offensive line in about 40 percent of plays that PFF logged.
Many have speculated that the Vikings have cut Boone because of system fit, a problem he likely wouldn't have in Arizona. Because the Vikings are switching to a more zone-heavy style of running, the argument that Boone may not fit could hold weight.
The Cardinals were slated to start Evan Boehm at right guard this year, a somewhat forced selection given that they may have planned for an open competition between Boehm and fourth-rounder Dorian Johnson, who may have been cut because of a long-term illness or persistent injury. There's a good chance now that Boone will start at right guard instead of Boehm — if not right away, then soon.
That will pair Boone with fellow former 49er Mike Iupati at left guard — meaning they'll play the positions they played in San Francisco. Along with A.Q. Shipley, Jared Veldheer and D.J. Humphries, it will probably be a decent run-blocking line that could suffer from pass protection problems in Arians' deep passing offense.
This won't provide us with much of a referendum on whether or not the Vikings made the right move taking a $3.4 million hit to cut him, in part because a different run-blocking scheme will complicate comparisons.
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