Arizona Cardinals sign offensive guard Paul Fanaika to an extension

Jul 28, 2013; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Paul Fanaika (74) looks on during training camp at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

According to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com, the team has signed offensive guard Paul Fanaika to a one-year contract extension. Fanaika’s extension goes through the 2014 season and this big news in a way because he was a seventh round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

So far in his short NFL career, he started in his first game which was last week versus the St. Louis Rams as the Cardinals’ right guard. Head Coach Bruce Arians liked what he saw from Fanaika saying, “Paul Fanaika handled his job solidly at right guard for the most part throughout the whole game.”

That obviously left a positive feeling in Arians’ mind because he ended up getting an extension and versus the Rams; Fanaika would only give up one sack according to Pro Football Focus. Fanaika is a local player going to school at Arizona State and at 6-foot-5, 327 lbs the young right guard could make some noise with the team while first round pick Jonathan Cooper is recovering from a broken leg suffered in the preseason.

On the Cardinals depth chart, which is a makeshift offensive line at best, Fanaika is listed as the starting right guard and playing next to veteran right tackle Eric Winston, so the transition to a full time starter will be easier as Winston should be able to help him.