The Arizona Cardinals need more production from Kendrick Bourne as their WR2. Defenses often contain Trey McBride and Michael Wilson, and Bourne hasn't consistently stepped up in that secondary role for the Cardinals.
Through seven games, he's totaled 25 receptions for 234 yards with zero touchdowns. At 6-foot-1, he'd ideally be more of a red-zone presence for Jacoby Brissett, especially with Marvin Harrison Jr. no longer in the picture.
McBride has been his elite self, producing regardless of the amount of defensive attention he receives. Meanwhile, Wilson has been underwhelming in his last three contests without Harrison. Some of that falls on Brissett as well as Arizona's injured offensive line. But you'd also like to see pieces like Bourne step up to save this struggling offense.
Cardinals need more production from Kendrick Bourne at WR2
Jalen Brooks' impressive emergence as the WR3 was unfortunately cut short, landing on IR due to a wrist injury. With Wilson/Bourne struggling and Harrison/Brooks no longer options, this Cardinals pass-catching group has gone from a roster strength to a weakness.
They did recently reunite with wide receiver Zay Jones, placing him on the practice squad. But these marginal moves won't help unlock Brissett and this Cardinals offense. Arizona is running out of options at the top and simply needs Bourne to produce.
That would help take the attention away from McBride and potentially even get Wilson back to that 1,000-yard receiver we previously saw. Even just having that threat of a passing attack would also help Jeremiyah Love look more like the No. 3 overall pick the Cardinals invested in.
It's a lot to ask of a 31-year-old Bourne, who signed a two-year, $10 million deal this offseason. But at this point, Arizona unfortunately doesn't have many other options, considering they're more likely to be sellers than buyers at the deadline.
The best year of Bourne's career was 2021, his first season with the New England Patriots. He totaled 55 receptions for 800 yards and 5 touchdowns. That would be ideal production for his first season with the Cardinals. That's not unrealistic to ask for a WR2, and it would do wonders for Arizona's offense. With their elite playmakers coming at tight end and running back, the Cardinals just need this receiving group to be good enough to let their other weapons do the heavy lifting.
Bourne looked rejuvenated in the offseason, quietly looking like a steal for the Cardinals. He hasn't quite shown that same production in the regular season. But given that he's become the WR2 in this struggling offense, now would be a perfect time for Bourne to return to his Patriots (or even preseason) form.
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