Now that the Cardinals offseason work has concluded, the players are out of the facility. Many have stated that these next few weeks aren't time off from football, but time away from the facility, hoping players remain locked in and prepared to report to Glendale for training camp on July 23. In the meantime, azcardinals.com will take a look and evaluate each position group prior to camp.
Next up, tight end.
LOCKS: Trey McBride, Tip Reiman
Going into the 2023 season, Trey McBride was not a household name that fans across the league knew beyond fantasy football. With the 2024 season on deck, McBride ranks among some of the best tight ends in the league. He became the first Cardinals tight end in 34 years to finish a game with over 100 yards, and he accomplished the feat twice in 2023. He also broke the franchise record for single-season receptions by a tight end with 81. McBride, especially after his visit to TEU, continues to receive praise entering his third season in the league, becoming the elder statesman in the Cardinals tight end room. With all of the weapons the Cardinals have on offense, in both the run and pass game, McBride is due for another breakout season.
His personality alone makes Tip Reiman a lock for the Cardinals in 2024. It also certainly helps that the third-round pick believes it's his mission to maul defenders in the run game. His 2023 stat line may not stand out, only reeling in 19 receptions for 203 yards, but the tight end is confident in his pass catching ability at the next level. Illinois, like many Big Ten programs, was a run-first offense, and as a blocker, there's not many better in the 2024 draft class. Considering Drew Petzing prefers to have a run-first scheme, Reiman should fit in well when they run 12 and 13 personnel packages.
WORK TO DO: Elijah Higgins, Travis Vokolek, Bernhard Seikovits, Blake Whiteheart
Elijah Higgins spent his collegiate career, alongside Michael Wilson at Stanford, as a wide receiver. When the Dolphins waived the receiver converted to tight end prospect, the Cardinals snagged him ahead of the season opener. It took Higgins some time to get used to the position, but he began to flash towards the end of the season. With a full offseason practicing at tight end, the coaching staff will hope to see improvement from him heading into his second season. The other tight ends in the room don't have as many game reps, but the staff has enjoyed having multiple tight ends at their disposal.
UPGRADE ODDS: Low
After the Cardinals drafted Reiman, there doesn't appear to be a need to upgrade at the position, especially when McBride is emerging as a top tight end in the league. If Monti Ossenfort were to entertain adding to the room, might it be a veteran that could serve a similar role as Geoff Swaim did last season?
