Arizona Cardinals could pursue Darius Slayton if Mike Kafka is hired
By Jim Koch
Darius Slayton would be an intriguing addition to the Arizona Cardinals receiving corps if Mike Kafka becomes the head coach.
The Arizona Cardinals roster is going to look a whole lot different in 2023. That is sort of inevitable when a team hires a brand-new general manager and head coach. Monti Ossenfort was brought in to replace Steve Keim a few weeks ago, but an alternative for Kliff Kingsbury has yet to emerge.
Mike Kafka, the offensive coordinator from the New York Giants, could very well be named the next coach of the Redbirds. An announcement could come as early as Monday. Who could we expect the front office to pursue in free agency if Kafka gets the Cards gig?
One player who would make some sense is Giants wideout Darius Slayton. There’s been some talk that Arizona could be looking to trade superstar pass-catcher DeAndre Hopkins. If that occurs, Ossenfort could be on the lookout for some individuals who can fill the tremendous void that will be created from parting ways with one of the NFL’s all-time greats.
Darius Slayton would bring an intriguing skill-set to the Arizona Cardinals
That’s not to say that Slayton is in Hopkins’ league, of course. Then again, not many wide receivers are in the five-time Pro Bowler’s stratosphere. Even so, Slayton could be an intriguing addition to the Cardinals offense in his own way.
This past fall, the 6 foot 190 pounder hauled in 46 passes for 724 yards and two touchdowns for the Giants. While the reception and scoring totals may not be overly-impressive, the 15.7 yards-per-reception number that Slayton posted for the Kafka-led scoring attack undoubtedly was. In fact, the 26-year-old averaged an excellent 15 yards on the 170 passes he has caught during his four-year professional career.
At the moment, the Cards receiving corps consists of Marquise Brown, Rondale Moore and Greg Dortch. That trio possesses a plethora of talent, but none of the three will win matchups with their size. At 6 foot 1,190 pounds, Slayton would instantly become Arizona’s biggest wideout.
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For now, all Cardinals fans can do is wait. With the Super Bowl out of the way, Ossenfort and owner Michael Bidwill will have no more excuses to drag this coaching search along any further. The hiring of Kafka, and the possible signing of a free agent like Slayton, could be just around the corner.
(Statistics provided by Pro Football Reference)
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