Meet the Arizona Cardinals Receivers: Dan Buckner

May 14, 2013; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Dan Buckner catches the ball during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

As we all prepare for Arizona Cardinals training camp in just about a month from now, we are looking ahead to what we will see on the initial camp roster.  We are starting with the wide receivers.  It is a position that has 13 spots filled, so clearly some of these guys won’t see a Cards uniform in September, however, six or seven of them could.  We start with Dan Buckner, rookie from the University of Arizona.

Buckner transferred from Texas after an issue with the law.  He had no run-in’s with the law in Arizona, at least as far as we know.  He is a guy I could see making a practice squad.

His strengths include providing a tall target for quarterbacks.  He is known to have good upper-body strength.  He does a good job or grabbing balls above his head, something he will see fellow receiver Larry Fitzgerald do a lot.  He could fit in with the long passing game.

Of course with those strengths comes some weaknesses.  His run-blocking does leave something to be desired, although it has been noted it has improved.  He has a hard time grabbing low balls near the ground as well, something not uncommon to hear with guys who are tall and grab a lot of high balls.  There is a worry he won’t be able to consistently use his hands to fend off defenders.  Of course as a receiver your job is to break yourself free in order to catch balls.  It’ll be an issue that will be followed closely in camp.

Projection: Practice squad