Tight end facing uncertain future with Arizona Cardinals

The bright future that was once predicted for Arizona Cardinals tight end Ricky Seals-Jones has now taken on a murky look

Back in 2017, tight end Ricky Seals-Jones looked like a star in the making. The youngster burst onto the scene midway through his rookie campaign, impressing onlookers with his soft hands and athleticism. In 10 appearances (one start), Seals-Jones scored three times and averaged a healthy 16.8 yards per catch as well.

Now, a couple of years later, Seals-Jones could very well be fighting for a roster spot. Arizona’s first official depth chart of 2019 has been released, and the news is not good for the third-year pro. Seals-Jones has tumbled to the third team, with two talented veterans standing in his way.

Charles Clay was added to the mix back in February, when the Cards signed the talented pass-catcher to a one-year contract. The former Miami Dolphins draft pick has hauled in 339 passes for 3,631 yards and 23 touchdowns during his eight NFL campaigns. Clay was a sixth-round selection of the Dolphins back in 2011, and spent the past four seasons with the Buffalo Bills.

Three months after acquiring Clay, the Cardinals brought another established tight end to the desert. Maxx Williams, who has been with the Baltimore Ravens since 2015, was inked to a one-year deal by the Redbirds. In 42 professional appearances (21 starts), the 25-year old has tallied 63 receptions for 497 yards and three scores.

Also vying for playing time at the tight end spot is seventh-round rookie Caleb Wilson. The “Mr. Irrelevant” of this past April’s draft has looked good thus far in training camp, and could also pose a threat to Seals-Jones’ employment with Arizona. Wilson was chosen with the 254th pick, but probably should’ve been taken off of the board much sooner.

Seals-Jones’ performance in 2018 was somewhat disappointing. The Texas A&M University product registered a mediocre 34 catches for 343 yards, and found the end zone just once. In Seals-Jones’ defense, the entire Cards offense struggled to produce last year with the inadequate coaching staff that was in place.

For the time being at least, Seals-Jones is buried on the franchise’s depth chart. Perhaps the 24-year old can dig out of the hole with an impressive preseason performance. If not, the possibility exists that the Cardinal could be playing football for another organization this coming fall.