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Do The Cardinals Have A New Wide Receiver No. 1?

Is Michael Wilson the guy going forward?
Jan 4, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA;  Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (14) makes the catch in front of Los Angeles Rams cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. (1) during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Jan 4, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (14) makes the catch in front of Los Angeles Rams cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. (1) during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The Arizona Cardinals' offensive game plan got mightily thrown off in 2025 when Marvin Harrison Jr., the team’s top-five draft selection from a year prior, missed five games due to injury.

Despite only winning five games, Arizona’s passing offense did not falter at all. In fact, we saw new faces take massive leaps in their development, with one earning a massive payday and the other ramping up for a contract year.

Tight end Trey McBride earned himself a four-year contract extension after earning his first Pro Bowl selection following the 2024 season. He managed to follow it up with another career year, tallying 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns while starting in all 17 games for the Red Birds.

Michael Wilson endured his breakout year as well, eclipsing 1,000 yards for the first time in his career, while also proving to many that he wouldn’t shy away from the No. 1 wide receiver role.

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This could be a major talking point in training camp. Still, it's overshadowed by the Cardinals' quarterback competition among Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew, and Carson Beck. But it would not be out of the ordinary for Wilson to come in and swipe the No. 1 wide receiver role from Harrison, who has not panned out in his short time with Arizona thus far.

Is the potential there for Harrison to turn it around? Obviously, but there are still reasons to believe that his time as the team’s first read may be over. Wilson has managed to put the pen to the paper in a much cleaner manner.

Just something to keep in mind.

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