Arizona Cardinals: Tight End camp preview

Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

The Arizona Cardinals dill counting on Jermaine Gresham to get the job done

There should be some competition at tight end as we get ready to enter Arizona Cardinals camp in about three weeks. The number one guy heading into camp is Jermaine Gresham.

Gresham is entering his 8th season out of Oklahoma. His production almost doubled from his first season in the desert in 2015.

Now, after re-signing with the team he is expected to be the go-to guy. He should be more than a token receiver in the offense.

Traditionally tight ends in Bruce Arians’ offense is more for blocking than receiving. This season though there is hope that Gresham can improve on his 37-receptions and two touchdowns.

Behind him are Ifanyi Momah, Troy Niklas, Ricky Seals-Jones, Hakeem Valles, and Steven Wroblewski. Wroblewski comes in as an undrafted free agent.

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The other question at tight end will be the health of Troy Niklas. He is entering his fourth season out of Notre Dame but most of his professional career early on has been marred by some sort of injury.

How many tight ends will the Cardinals end up keeping. There are six in camp now. Unless someone gets hurt, these are likely the six you will see compete for spots on the 53-man roster in July and August.

Roster predictions:

Starters: Gresham, Niklas

Backups: Momah, Seals-Jones

Call it a hunch but Seals-Jones could get in ahead of Valles. Valles was with the team most of 2016 but this could be the last big run the Cardinals make the Super Bowl in awhile.

Practice squad possibilities: Valles, Wroblewski

Both guys that don’t make the final roster in this case would be practice squad-eligible. A word of caution though, many were high on Niklas early in camp last year and he disappeared and then injured. Stay tuned.

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