Arizona Cardinals acquire former Texas Tech pass-catcher
By Jim Koch
Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury is familiar with Dylan Cantrell from their days together at Texas Tech University
The Arizona Cardinals, like many other NFL clubs, have been relatively quiet over the past few weeks. Most of the organization’s salary-cap space has dwindled, so the front office has very little money left to spend on players who are still available. There is some cash remaining for minor moves, however, like the one that the Cards made on the first day of June.
Arizona announced on Monday that they have acquired Dylan Cantrell, a wide receiver/tight end who was released by the Los Angeles Chargers last year. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury is highly familiar with the 25-year old from their days together at Texas Tech University. Cantrell was a wideout for four seasons with the Red Raiders, but the Cardinals apparently have different plans for the 6’3, 240 pound pass-catcher.
Kingsbury and the Cards have already let it be known that Cantrell will be making the switch to the tight end position. That’s actually a good thing for the free agent addition, considering the fact that the squad’s roster is loaded with talented wide receivers. Arizona’s current depth at tight end includes Maxx Williams, Dan Arnold, Darrell Daniels, Ryan Becker and Parker Houston, so Cantrell appears to have a solid chance of making the team.
Cantrell was selected by the Chargers during the sixth round (191st-overall pick) of the 2018 draft. The Texas native was waived on September 1st of that year, and signed to the practice squad the very next day. Cantrell’s stint with Los Angeles officially came to an end when he was sent packing by the franchise on July 28, 2019.
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Cantrell’s best campaign with Texas Tech was in 2017, when he hauled in 71 passes for 816 yards and seven touchdowns. As a junior in 2016, the wideout caught 58 balls for 675 yards and eight scores. In 40 career games, Cantrell tallied 158 receptions,1,873 yards and 19 total touchdowns (one rushing) for Kingsbury’s Red Raiders.