Arizona Cardinals: How will each 2022 draft pick fare this season?
By Sion Fawkes
The Arizona Cardinals had eight draft picks in 2022. So how will each of them fare in their respective rookie seasons? Keep reading for more.
The Arizona Cardinals drafted a mixture of the best on the board and for need in 2022. And it is no secret that each of their eight selections could be in a prime position to make the opening day roster and perhaps make an impact, small or large, on the team.
Today, I will project how each of the Cardinals picks will serve the team in 2022, starting with the 55th overall selection, Trey McBride. Will any of the picks be Pro Bowl bound? Are there any late-round sleepers likely to serve a monster impact on the team this season? Keep reading to discover more.
How each Arizona Cardinals draft pick will perform in 2022: Trey McBride, TE
McBride can easily be seen as a tweener player, having clocked in at 6’3 5/8 at the NFL Combine and weighing 246lb. He also ran a 40-yard dash in 4.56 seconds. This makes him a shorter yet faster version of the current tight end, Zach Ertz.
And while the McBride pick puzzled some, he nonetheless adds another dimension to the Arizona Cardinals offense. Especially with Ertz turning 32 this season and Maxx Williams has never really panned out as a receiving tight end despite the latter putting up respectable numbers.
So, where does that leave McBride? Odds are, he will spend the preseason as the TE3. Ertz is the clear-cut top man on the depth chart, with Williams having shown enough to start the season as the TE2. McBride, however, may see the field more with DeAndre Hopkins’ early-season suspension.
I project that he hauls in 20 receptions, with the majority coming toward the beginning of the season. Add another 240 yards and two touchdowns to the mix, and McBride finishes his rookie season with modest numbers.