Late-round wide receiver options for the Arizona Cardinals

Rumors are circulating that the Arizona Cardinals may be toying with the idea of acquiring a wide receiver with their first-round draft selection. Possibilities include DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle, two pass-catchers out of the University of Alabama. The Cards will have to wait until pick number 16 to choose, so there’s a solid chance that both of those youngsters will be off of the board by then.

With both Smith and Waddle gone, Arizona would have no choice but to go in another direction in round number one. However, general manager Steve Keim could elect to grab a wideout during the draft’s latter portion. The following are a few of the receivers who could be available for the Cardinals in the later rounds.

One of the more interesting options for the Cards could be Dax Milne, a 6’1,190 pounder out of Brigham Young University. In 12 games last fall, the junior wideout caught 70 passes for 1,188 yards and eight touchdowns for the Cougars. Milne was a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy in 2020, an award given to the most outstanding FBS college football player who began his career as a walk-on.

Another late-round possibility for Arizona could be Austin Watkins, a physically gifted pass-catcher out of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The 6’3, 210 pounder snagged 98 balls for 1,642 yards and nine scores during his three campaigns with the Blazers. As a junior in 2019, Watkins registered 57 receptions, 1,092 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

The University of Houston’s Marquez Stevenson is another intriguing prospect who the Cardinals could take a flier on. The 6’0,190 pounder hauled in 147 balls for 2,269 yards and 22 scores in four seasons for the Cougars. Stevenson also contributed 231 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, and was named First-Team All-AAC following both the 2018 and 2019 campaigns.

One other wide receiver who the Cards could take a look at is the University of Louisville’s Dez Fitzpatrick. The 6’2, 210 pounder tallied 154 catches, 2,589 yards and 21 scores in his four years at the school. Fitzpatrick was voted Second-Team All-ACC as a senior last fall.