Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, Kyler Murray and Trey McBride? The Arizona Cardinals quarterback-tight end duo isn't as iconic as some others, but it has been one of the most effective pairings in the league in recent years.
According to one NFL analyst though, Murray and McBride are no better than average when it comes to offensive duos.
Kyler Murray and Trey McBride ranked 17th among QB-WR/TE duos
In a recent article, PFF analyst Trevor Sikkema ranked the primary passer-receiver pairings for each NFL team. The Arizona Cardinals' duo, Kyler Murray and Trey McBride, ranked 17th. According to Sikkema, "McBride and Murray are a talented duo, but their production doesn’t jump off the page."
He's right about the talent. By modest estimations, Kyler Murray is an average NFL quarterback. He usually ranks anywhere from 12th to 18th in the league. Trey McBride, on the other hand, has proven himself to be one of the NFL's best tight ends. He enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, leading to a massive contract extension this offseason.
So how does such a talented duo fail to rank in the top half of the league? According to Sikkema, it's their lack of production. McBride hauled in 111 receptions for 1,146 yards last season. However, he only caught two touchdown passes.
Trey McBride was Kyler Murray's go-to option in sticky situations last season. McBride was consistently able to take check-down passes and turn them into explosive gains. He had nearly 550 yards after the catch on the year.
That's good, if not elite production for a tight end, but how does it stack up against those pairings ranked above Murray and McBride?
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love and his primary receiver, Jayden Reed, ranked 12th on Sikkema's list. The two have been fairly efficient on their connections, but the production is extremely limited. In 2024, Reed had just 55 receptions for 857 yards. Is that enough to rank five spots ahead of a duo like Murray and McBride? I wouldn't say so.
At the end of the day, rankings like these are just a framework for the state of NFL rosters. True rankings will be determined by performances on the field during the season. If Kyler Murray and Trey McBride can help lead the Arizona Cardinals to a playoff appearance, they will likely rise in rankings across the league.