The offseason has officially started for the Arizona Cardinals, and the roster is going to look vastly different going into 2024.
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Finishing 4-13 on the season, there were some good, bad and ugly moments throughout head coach Jonathan Gannon’s first season in Arizona.
But with all of the twists and turns this season presented, the emergence of tight end Trey McBride created a hint of what the future looks like for Cardinals football.
Signs of a Star
Coming into his second year, McBride started only two of the first-seven games of the season, coming off the bench when called upon.
Then, Zach Ertz suffered a quad strain, was placed on Injured Reserve and eventually waived.
With a fellow tight end out of the Cardinals’ picture, McBride ran away with a bigger role, literally.
McBride played in all 17 games this season, finished with 81 receptions from 106 targets, 825 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Because of his standout out performances week in, week out, he was able to establish him name into Cardinals history.
On Dec. 17, 2023, McBride surpassed Ertz and Jackie Smith for most receptions in a single-season by a Cardinals tight end. Going into the game against the San Francisco 49ers, McBride, Zach Ertz (2021) and Jackie Smith (1967) were all tied with 56.
He also recorded the second-most amount of yards in a single-season as a tight end. Smith had 1,205 in 1967.
Multiple times this year, McBride would turn presumed two-yard plays into with ones with double-digit yardage.
His strength, mobility and willingness to power himself through the opposition’s defense has led him to the most successful season that he has had in the NFL.
When asked on if McBride can improve even further, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray believes that there is more to come from him.
“For sure, Trey ain’t even cracked the ceiling of what he can be,” Murray said. “I am really confident of Trey and what he’s gonna be. His athleticism, his ability to catch the ball, do things with the ball in his hands, Trey is going to be just fine.”
"One of my favorite teams to ever be a part of"
???? Kyler Murray addressed the media following today’s game pic.twitter.com/KvaC7t57go
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) January 8, 2024
*Video via Arizona Cardinals X (formerly Twitter account) @AZCardinals*
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Alec Cipollini is a reporter of the Arizona Coyotes and Cardinals for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account @AlecCipollini
