The Arizona Cardinals bolstered their team by adding 12 NFL Draft picks, improving multiple positions on their roster.
Now that the biggest part of Arizona’s offseason is complete, focus shifts to the depth chart and how the Cardinals’ roster will look.
Even though there’s time before they hit the field, there are many uncertainties surrounding Arizona as they enter Year 2 under head coach Jonathan Gannon and general manager Monti Ossenfort.
Let’s begin with the Cardinals’ revamped group of receivers:
Is Michael Wilson the undisputed lock at WR2?
The question of who would become Arizona’s top wide receiver was answered with the addition of No. 4 overall pick Marvin Harrison Jr.
But what about the WR2 position?
All indications suggest that Michael Wilson will secure that role after his performance as a rookie, where he caught 38 passes for 565 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games. He ranked third among Arizona receivers in yards and tied tight end Trey McBride for the highest number of touchdowns.
With Rondale Moore and Hollywood Brown no longer on the roster, and Greg Dortch set as Arizona’s primary slot receiver, the path is clear for Wilson to step into that role.
The main concern with Wilson isn’t his ability to make plays, but his availability. He dealt with various injuries in college, and as a rookie, he suffered a shoulder injury that kept him out of four games and affected his performance in subsequent games.
Taking availability into account, Arizona’s receiving lineup should be as follows:
WR1:Â Marvin Harrison Jr.
WR2:Â Michael Wilson
Slot:Â Greg Dortch
The veterans to watch
A veteran name to keep an eye on, who could challenge Wilson’s position as WR2, is the new addition Chris Moore.
While he hasn’t been a standout in recent seasons, Moore did provide a deep threat for the Tennessee Titans, averaging 19.3 yards per catch and totaling 22 receptions for 424 yards in 2023.
Another contender is Zach Pascal, who primarily played on special teams for the Cardinals last year but had significant playing time during his three-year tenure with the Indianapolis Colts from 2019-21. During those years, he recorded back-to-back seasons with at least 41 catches, 607 yards, and five touchdowns.
At the very least, Pascal offers Arizona another big-bodied option currently on the roster.
The rookie to watch
While he was one of Arizona’s final picks in the NFL Draft, former UAB wide receiver Tejhaun Palmer could still make an impact if he can quickly grasp the playbook and develop chemistry with quarterback Kyler Murray.
Standing at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, Palmer possesses the ideal size for the position and boasts a solid catch radius. He’s coming off a strong season at UAB, where he caught 47 passes for 858 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games.
Palmer will need to demonstrate his ability to separate against press coverage in the NFL and work on his agility when breaking off routes.
Although he’s currently low on the depth chart, Palmer’s size and past performance make him a player to keep an eye on for increased playing time.
