Dierrias J. Humphries Jr. (born December 28, 1993) is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators. Humphries won the 2011 Anthony Muñoz Award, awarded to the best lineman in high school football. He was selected in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals, spending nine seasons with the team.

D. J. Humphries
refer to caption
Humphries with the Arizona Cardinals in 2020
Kansas City Chiefs
Position:Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1993-12-28) December 28, 1993 (age 30)
Union, South Carolina, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:307 lb (139 kg)
Career information
High school:Mallard Creek
(Charlotte, North Carolina)
College:Florida (2012–2014)
NFL draft:2015 / round: 1 / pick: 24
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Games played:98
Games started:98
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

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A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Humphries attended Mallard Creek High School, where he was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball, and track. He was an All-American offensive lineman, clearing the way for 2,000-yard rusher Jela Duncan, and helping protect quarterback Marquise Williams. Humphries started from his freshman season and did not allow a sack over the final three years of his prep career. In 2011, Humphries helped Mallard Creek to a 13–1 record and berth in the NCHSAA Class 4AA State Semifinals, where they were upset 41–27 by Greensboro (NC) Page.[1] In track & field, Humphries competed in the shot put (top-throw of 48 ft 9 in, or 15.25 m) and the discus (105 ft 3 in, or 32.15 m).[2]

Regarded as a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Humphries was ranked as the No. 1 offensive tackle prospect of his class, ahead of No. 2 prospect Zach Banner.[3] Rivals compared him to D'Brickashaw Ferguson.[4] Recruited by virtually every Division I program in the country, Humphries chose Florida over offers from Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina, among others.

College career

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Humphries enrolled in January 2012 to participate in spring practice. As a true freshman, he appeared in all 12 games, starting three (South Carolina, Missouri, and Louisiana–Lafayette). He graded out at 80 percent or better six times, including 100 percent against Texas A&M and Tennessee. Humphries was named First-team Offense Southeastern Conference Coaches' All-Freshman (OL) and Sporting News Freshman All-America.[5] He played the first seven games of his sophomore season in 2013, before suffering a season-ending injury. As a junior in 2014, he played in 10 games, missing two due to injury.

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 5 in
(1.96 m)
307 lb
(139 kg)
33+58 in
(0.85 m)
10 in
(0.25 m)
5.12 s 1.84 s 3.02 s 4.64 s 7.87 s 31 in
(0.79 m)
8 ft 8 in
(2.64 m)
26 reps
All values from NFL Combine[6][7]
 
Humphries playing for the Cardinals in his rookie season.

Arizona Cardinals

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After his junior season, Humphries entered the 2015 NFL draft, and was selected with the 24th overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals.[8][9] He was the highest selected Florida offensive lineman since Mike Pouncey in 2011.

On June 1, 2015, the Cardinals signed Humphries to a four-year, $8.91 million rookie contract with $7.26 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $4.74 million.[10]

Throughout his rookie training camp and in the preseason, Humphries displayed revolting play in practice and preseason. Head coach Bruce Arians nicknamed him "knee-deep", explaining that you need to keep "A knee in his ass every day" to keep him motivated.[11]

He started his rookie season as the Cardinals' third right tackle on their depth chart, behind veterans Earl Watford and Bobby Massie. During his rookie season, he was inactive for all 16 regular season games and both postseason contests. He was the only first round draft pick in 2015 to be inactive the entire season.[12]

To begin his second season with the Cardinals, Humphries was named the starting right tackle to begin the regular season. He had his professional debut and first career start in the Cardinals' season opening 23–21 loss to the New England Patriots. On November 27, 2016, he made his first career start at left tackle in a 38–19 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Starting left tackle Jared Veldheer suffered a torn triceps a few games prior and Humphries replaced the struggling John Wetzel who was in place of Veldheer.[13] On December 11, 2016, Humphries suffered a concussion during the first half of a Week 14 23-26 loss to the Miami Dolphins.[14]

Humphries entered the 2017 season as the Cardinals' starting left tackle. He suffered an MCL sprain in Week 1 and missed the next four games. He returned in Week 6 and started the next four games at left tackle. However in Week 10 on Thursday Night Football, Humphries left the game with a knee injury. He was later diagnosed with a dislocated knee cap and an MCL injury and was ruled out for the season.[15]

On April 24, 2018, the Cardinals picked up the fifth-year option on Humphries' contract.[16] He started the first nine games at left tackle before suffering a knee injury in Week 10. He missed the next three games before being placed on injured reserve on December 5, 2018.[17]

On February 17, 2020, Humphries signed a three-year, $45 million contract extension with the Cardinals through the 2022 season.[18]

On August 2, 2022, Humphries signed a three-year, $66.6 million contract extension with the Cardinals through the 2025 season.[19]

On November 26, 2022, Humphries was placed on injured reserve with a back injury.[20]

On March 13, 2024, Humphries was released by the Cardinals after nine seasons.[21]

Kansas City Chiefs

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On November 22, 2024, Humphries signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.[22]

Personal life

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His father, also named D. J. Humphries, played college football and basketball at Presbyterian College, as well as in the Arena Football League.[23][24] He has a son.[25]

References

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  1. ^ Parker, Brandon (November 28, 2011). "Page knocks off No. 1 Mallard Creek". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  2. ^ "D.J. Humphries". Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  3. ^ "Yahoo Sports: Rivals.com Ranking - Rivals.com offensive tackles 2012". Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  4. ^ "Rivals.com Football Recruiting - The first five-stars: D.J. Humphries". Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  5. ^ "Sporting News' 2012 Freshman All-American team". Sporting News. December 7, 2012. Archived from the original on January 6, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  6. ^ "D.J. Humphries Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  7. ^ "D.J. Humphries, Florida, OT, 2015 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  8. ^ "D.J. Humphries, Jeff Driskel moving on from Gators". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on July 2, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  9. ^ "Florida OT D.J. Humphries intends to enter 2015 NFL Draft". NFL.com. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  10. ^ "sportrac.com: D.J. Humphries contract". sportrac.com. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  11. ^ "NFL.com: D.J. Humphries one of the most disappointing rookies". Arizonasports.com. November 17, 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  12. ^ Kent Somers (May 20, 2016). "Arizona Cardinal's D.J. Humphries humbled, set to start". azcentral.com. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  13. ^ Kevin Zimmerman (November 27, 2016). "Cardinal's OL DJ Humphries makes first start at left tackle". arizonasports.com. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  14. ^ Jess Root (December 12, 2016). "D.J. Humphries, Jermaine Gresham miss practice for Cardinals". cardswire.com. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  15. ^ Odegard, Kyle (November 10, 2017). "D.J. Humphries, Tyvon Branch Done For Season". AZCardinals.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2018.
  16. ^ Williams, Charean (April 23, 2018). "Report: Cardinals picking up D.J. Humphries' fifth-year option". ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com.
  17. ^ Urban, Darren (December 5, 2018). "Final Blow To Original O-Line: D.J. Humphries To IR; Cardinals Sign Joe Barksdale". AZCardinals.com.
  18. ^ Maya, Adam (February 17, 2020). "Cardinals agree to 3-year deal with OT D.J. Humphries". NFL.com.
  19. ^ Gordon, Grant (August 2, 2022). "Cardinals LT D.J. Humphries signs three-year extension worth $66.8M". NFL.com.
  20. ^ Urban, Darren (November 26, 2022). "Marquise Brown Activated; D.J. Humphries, Zach Ertz To Injured Reserve". AZCardinals.com.
  21. ^ Urban, Darren (March 13, 2024). "Cardinals Release D.J. Humphries". AZCardinals.com.
  22. ^ Williams, Charean. "Reports: LT D.J. Humphries to sign with Chiefs". NBC Sports. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  23. ^ "Young father committed life to raising son". Rivals.com. August 16, 2011.
  24. ^ Wilkerson, William (January 7, 2012). "Wilkerson: Humphries hungry to succeed". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  25. ^ "Newest Cardinal in the nest". Twitter. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
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