Arizona Cardinals history includes many talented wideouts

For the past few decades, some of the NFL’s finest wide receivers have found a home with the Arizona Cardinals organization

For a large part of it’s existence, the Arizona Cardinals organization has been well-stocked at the wide receiver spot. Even the club’s worst teams throughout their history seemed to have a wideout or two that was chock-full of talent. In fact, some of the best to ever play the position have had outstanding years for the Cardinals.

You can’t even begin to discuss this particular subject without mentioning the sensational Larry Fitzgerald. The third-overall selection of the 2004 draft is quite possibly the greatest player to ever wear a Cards uniform. Fitzgerald’s 1,303 catches, 16,279 receiving yards and 116 touchdowns will be more than enough to get the 11-time Pro Bowler into the Hall of Fame.

Another of the franchise’s receivers, Roy Green, certainly performed like a Hall of Famer during his 12 NFL campaigns. The “Jet Stream” teamed with quarterback Neil Lomax to form one of the most lethal offensive combinations of the 1980’s. Green’s career numbers included 522 receptions, 8.496 receiving yards and 66 scores.

Anquan Boldin, a second-round pick in 2003, spent seven incredibly productive seasons in Arizona. The Florida State University product tallied 586 receptions for 7,520 yards and 44 touchdowns during his years with Big Red. The talented Boldin was overshadowed by Fitzgerald towards the end of his tenure, a situation that led to him being traded to the Baltimore Ravens in 2010.

Mel Gray was a star speedster for the Cardinals during the 1970’s, when the squad resided in St. Louis. The four-time Pro Bowler, who played his college ball at the University of Missouri, was a sixth-round choice in 1971. Gray hauled in 351 passes for 6,644 yards and 45 scores during his 12 seasons with the Redbirds.

Pat Tilley, who spent 11 years with the Cards, played his entire career in St. Louis. The Shreveport, Louisiana native was a fourth-round pick in 1976, and was voted to the Pro Bowl in 1980. Tilley registered 468 catches, 7,005 receiving yards and 37 touchdowns for the organization from 1976-86.

Frank Sanders caught 493 passes for 6,579 yards and 24 scores during his eight campaigns in Arizona. Rob Moore racked up 322 receptions, 5,110 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns in five years with the club. J.T. Smith tallied 377 catches for 4,701 yards and 27 scores during his six campaigns with the Cardinals.

Bobby Joe Conrad (1958-68), Sonny Randle (1959-66) and Ricky Proehl (1990-94) are three other Cards wide receivers worth mentioning. From top to bottom, it’s a mighty impressive list of pass-catchers that the franchise has assembled over the past few decades. A group that Cardinals fans have had the pleasure of watching throughout that entire time.