Raising Zona
FanSided

Sleeper receivers the Arizona Cardinals can consider in the late rounds

By Sion Fawkes

MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 30: Wide Reciever Dez Fitzpatrick #13 from Louisville of the National Team during the 2021 Resse's Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 30, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. The National Team defeated the American Team 27-24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 30: Wide Reciever Dez Fitzpatrick #13 from Louisville of the National Team during the 2021 Resse's Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 30, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. The National Team defeated the American Team 27-24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 30: Wide Reciever Dez Fitzpatrick #13 from Louisville of the National Team during the 2021 Resse’s Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 30, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. The National Team defeated the American Team 27-24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 30: Wide Reciever Dez Fitzpatrick #13 from Louisville of the National Team during the 2021 Resse’s Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 30, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. The National Team defeated the American Team 27-24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

Dez Fitzpatrick/Louisville

Fitzpatrick boasts experience, having played 49 games throughout his collegiate career. And like McKoy listed in Slide One, he’s also a deep threat, having averaged 18.1 and 19.4 yards per catch in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

And while he’s not the kind of deep threat who will make big plays downfield, his route-running and shiftiness after the catch are what have inflated his YPC. For a team like the Cardinals who run horizontal passing attacks, Fitzpatrick would fit right into the scheme, lessening his learning curve at the next level.

The more you read about Fitzpatrick and watch his film, the more he will remind you of former NFL receiver Wes Welker, except he’s a taller version. Athlon has a 4th to 5th-round grade on Fitzpatrick, so if the Cardinals would seriously consider him, chances are they must do so with their fifth-round pick.

Next. Three late round options for Cardinals. dark

If he ends up going from the Cardinals to the Cardinals, he wouldn’t remind you of another Fitz (Larry Fitzgerald) right away. But odds are, Dez Fitzpatrick has the potential and niche ability at receiver to play in the NFL for a long time.

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