Arizona Cardinals Will Give 4th-Round Pick Massie Every Opportunity to Start

On the heels of the news that the Pittsburgh Steelers will give second-round pick Mike Adams a chance to start at offensive tackle as a rookie, a source suggested to CBS Sports' Rob Rang that the Arizona Cardinals will give their fourth-round pick Bobby Massie "every opportunity" to start at right tackle. Like Adams, Massie is joining an offensive tackle that has been one of the worst in the league at offensive tackle during recent years.

Massie was widely considered a second-round talent with a chance of breaking into the first because of his track record as a battle-tested tackle in the elite SEC. He fell to the Cardinals in the fourth not because of play, according to Rang's source, but because Massie's lack of technical improvement raised questions about his work ethic and dependability.

Massie told Arizona Sports 620 that he has a "chip on his shoulder" because of the draft weekend slide.

"I felt like other teams kind of doubted me, my ability, and so when I put the pads on on Sunday they're going to realize they should have drafted me high," he said.

Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official website said Massie "looked right" at the team's rookie mini camp but cautioned that it is difficult to prepare a young offensive lineman's performance "when it counts." Massie's main competition, Jeremy Bridges, gave up seven sacks last year despite limited action when it counted, so Massie should probably win the job until he displays major flaws in training camp and the preseason.