TEMPE, Ariz. -- A left tackle might not be as high on the Arizona Cardinals' wish list come free agency, as most people think.

Head coach Bruce Arians said it will be a priority, but “it doesn’t have to be the highest.”

“Bradley (Sowell) played OK, and he’s going to get better with another year of strength and conditioning,” Arians said. “It’s not the most glaring need.”

Sowell allowed seven sacks in the final 12 weeks of the season after replacing Levi Brown aft left tackle. He went the final four games without giving up a sack.

Arizona has been reported to be interested in Kansas City tackle Branden Albert.

Arians' comments reflect the offensive line’s performance down the stretch. The unit was able to keep quarterback Carson Palmer relatively clean as the Cardinals finished 7-2.

Arians also said he’s open to taking a quarterback during the second or third day of the NFL draft in May.

“If there’s a guy that I truly believe will take the place of (back-up quarterback Drew) Stanton or (third-string quarterback Ryan) Lindley in that spot and become a much better player than those two, then yeah,” Arians said. “Because we’re going to have cut one of those two for them.”

Stanton hasn’t thrown a pass in a regular-season game since 2010, and Lindley, who started four games in 2012 as a rookie, didn’t see a snap last season.

Stanton is under contract through 2015, as is Lindley. Starter Carson Palmer is signed through 2014 and has a club option for '15.