The Arizona Cardinals will be bringing along a boatload of capable wide receivers to their upcoming training camp in July
Arizona Cardinals’ quarterback Carson Palmer had to have been licking his chops during last year’s training camp. He was throwing passes every day to what looked like one of the NFL’s best wide receiver groups. The Cardinals appeared primed to repeat the passing game success they enjoyed in 2015.
Unfortunately, things went awry. A host of circumstances turned what should’ve been one of Arizona’s strongest positions into a question mark. The wideouts’ struggles contributed greatly to the club’s disappointing 7-8-1 record.
General manager Steve Keim must believe there’s strength in numbers. There’s currently 16 pass-catchers on the Cards’ roster. The squad will most likely enter the upcoming campaign with a maximum of six, leaving a good number of those wide receivers jobless.
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The star of the bunch, future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald, will probably be done playing at the end of ’17. Unlike many players, the 33-year old isn’t just “hanging on”. Instead, he’s coming off of a year in which he tallied an impressive 107 receptions for 1,023 yards and six scores.
John “Smokey” Brown is gearing up for a bounce-back season. A sickle-cell condition and recently-discovered cyst on his spine caused fatigue and weakness in his legs last year. He posted the worst statistics of his three-year stay in the NFL, catching just 39 balls for 517 yards and two touchdowns.
One bright spot for the position in ’16 was tiny speedster J.J. Nelson. Taking advantage of increased playing time, the 5’10”, 161 pounder amassed 34 catches for 568 yards and seven scores (one rushing).
Jaron Brown has played well when given the chance. The 2013 undrafted free agent signed a one-year extension with the Cardinals last November, a month after tearing his ACL. His roster spot isn’t a certainty, but he does possess good hands and size.
An interesting addition to the corps is Andre Ellington. The former running back, who stands just 5’9″, will most likely line up in the slot. He has always flashed excellent pass-catching ability, so his transition may be a smooth one.
Last week’s third-round draft pick, Chad Williams, will also be in the mix. Returning veterans Brittan Golden, Jeremy Ross and Aaron Dobson will also be vying for spots. Others include Harvey Binford, Marquis Bundy, Chris Hubert, Ricky Seals-Jones, Marvin Hall, Krishawn Hogan and Carlton Agudosi.
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That’s quite a list for Keim and his cohorts to sift through. There’s quite a bit of talent among the candidates, so deciding which six or so will stick will not be an easy task. Palmer must be licking those chops again.