Raising Zona
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Michael Floyd is Arizona Cardinals’ biggest enigma

By Jim Koch

Oct 23, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) reacts following the game against the Seattle Seahawks at University of Phoenix Stadium. The game ended in a 6-6 tie after overtime. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) reacts following the game against the Seattle Seahawks at University of Phoenix Stadium. The game ended in a 6-6 tie after overtime. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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What to do with the much-maligned wide receiver will certainly be one of the biggest offseason dilemmas for the Arizona Cardinals

Heading into the 2016 season, the wide receiver position appeared to be a strength of the Arizona Cardinals. But 11 games in, with the exception of future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald, the group has underachieved severely. One of the biggest disappointments has been the club’s 2012 first-round draft pick, Michael Floyd.

With free agency on the horizon, Floyd has done little to prove he’s worth a mega-deal. He’s been incredibly inconsistent, making some tough catches but then dropping some easy ones. Many players raise their level of play during their “contract ” year, but that has not been the case with Floyd.

In his five seasons in the NFL, the Notre Dame product hasn’t quite become the player the Cardinals had hoped he would be. He has reached the 1000-yard plateau only once, and has never scored more than six touchdowns in a season. Not the kind of numbers you’d expect from the 13th overall pick in the draft.

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With Bruce Arians and Carson Palmer now on board in 2013, Floyd had his best campaign. In 16 games, he had 65 receptions, 1041 yards and five touchdowns. His best moment came in Seattle against the Seahawks, securing the game-winning score from Palmer late in the contest.

He tallied almost identical numbers in 2014 and 2015, with 800-plus yards receiving and six touchdowns in both years. Considering that he was, and still is, playing second-fiddle to Fitzgerald, the statistics are decent. But Arizona management and the fans have expected more.

Floyd is on pace for his worst output since his rookie year in 2016. At this rate, he won’t even reach 600 yards receiving. A nightmare for the fifth-year pro and his agent.

The million-dollar offseason question is what to do with Floyd. There’s a chance that Fitzgerald decides to hang up the cleats. The front office managed to extend Jaron Brown, but John Brown has been hampered by a sickle cell trait condition.

It will be interesting to see what Floyd’s exact worth will be on the open market. It will also be interesting to see what the Cards’ level of interest will be. It’s quite possible that they will have no interest at all.

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