Your Arizona Cardinals now hold the 16th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft

[kerouac9]

He was drafted to be a blocking TE. No one was talking about him being a top receiving TE. We all knew any yardage would be bonus. Not seeing this as a knock on him at all. He did what we drafted him to do.

See, this is what the actual Trey McBride discourse was about. Tight end prospects are historically volatile; investing high picks in them is a fool's errand if you're trying to draft efficiently.

What is the marginal value a blocking TE brings over running out your 3rd OT on the 41% of offensive downs he's on the field? He had seven targets in 17 games. He was running more routes out there as the season went on, and I'm not as upset about the potential as others are.

I'm also not saying that he's already one of the top five blocking TEs in the league because literally no one pays attention to the top blocking TEs and people really mean "I don't know what I'm talking about" when they say that.

Because you don't take a blocking TE in round 3 when there are good offensive and defensive linemen still on the board

It certainly feels like a #2 TE or #3 TE (depending on how you feel about Elijah Jones) offers less positional value that what is essentially What If Rondale Moore But Big.

 

[DVontel]

Yea, you guys have to give rookies more than just their rookie season before making a conclusion. Not everyone is just bursts out the scene at a high level.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

A few years ago you labeled McBride as "looking like a big miss"

Post-Season Cuts Impact Cap

None of that should affect bad snaps and false starts, especially as the C. Sacks, he gets a bit more leeway with, sure, but even then he's not been good. Compete for a backup spot? Sure. Nothing more. Not playing shotgun much seems like a pretty good excuse for bad snaps. As I said, he's...

www.arizonasportsfans.com

Maybe we we should give these young guys a year or two to develop. That "big miss" has developed into arguably the top TE in the league or at least among the top 3.

Which is why I included the caveat "and so far", which was true at the time.

 

[slanidrac16]

Yea, you guys have to give rookies more than just their rookie season before making a conclusion. Not everyone is just bursts out the scene at a high level.

Obviously , they don’t.
In spite of many opinions on this site the team has improved. The cap is in great shape. The culture has changed. We might not be thrilled at where we are at to this point but it has improved.
Of course past success( or shortcomings) is no guarantee for future success or shortcomings.

Steady as she goes. No matter what Monti does this off season it won’t be enough for us. Our free agency probably will not be enough and the draft will be full of “ we should haves”.

Score 20pts…. Just 20pts. against the Seahawks and Rams and we are in the playoffs. A terrible call on Rieman vs the Vikings probably cost us the game. We blew Three shots at winning the game against the Panthers.

We are better. We are close. Unfortunately, to get over the hump we have to get a LOT better and hope the football gods bless us with a little luck.

 

[Chopper0080]

I feel like it is ok to feel like Monti did not get great value out of his four 3rd round picks. That said, the only two I have an issue with are Benson and Jones. Benson because there were clearly other, and potentially better, options in the draft taken after Benson. Jones because of the composition of the DB room after taking Melton in round 2.

 

[Stout]

Yea, you guys have to give rookies more than just their rookie season before making a conclusion. Not everyone is just bursts out the scene at a high level.

Absolutely. But it is a message board and posters will expound about needs and how they feel those needs aren't being met. I think counting on DRob to be the absolute beast DL we need next season is foolish. That doesn't mean I think he doesn't have the chance to develop into a good player or anything. It just means I'm not ready to rely on that huge jump from year 1 to year 2. Call it the BJ Ojulari effect. Monti putting all his eggs in the Ojulari basket at edge this season was sheer idiocy. Unless Beej became an instant high-impact edge, the plan was awful. Even then, we would have lacked other needed talent at the position. Of course, the injury knocked him out of contention, but there's no way Monti can legislate for the injury. He can be blamed for general lack of edge talent/depth on the roster, but not the injury.

 

[BACH]

Williams is above average right now for a slot corner, the question being can he sustain his play going into next season which he can

Ranking #6 out of roughtly 150 CBs in the league is a bit more than above average.

 

[Russ Smith]

He was drafted to be a blocking TE. No one was talking about him being a top receiving TE. We all knew any yardage would be bonus. Not seeing this as a knock on him at all. He did what we drafted him to do.

He was drafted too high. I do like him as a blocker but you probably didn't need to take him in the 3rd round.

For him to be a good pick he has to develop as a receiver too, 3 is too high for a blocker.

 

[BACH]

He was drafted too high. I do like him as a blocker but you probably didn't need to take him in the 3rd round.

For him to be a good pick he has to develop as a receiver too, 3 is too high for a blocker.

Agree that that is is too high for a pure blocker if Reiman never develops in the passing game.

But IMO it's way too early to conclude anything on Reiman - TEs usually have the longest development time of any position after QB.

Reiman is a freak athlete and has the potential to also be a receiver. Will he live up to it? Time will tell, but for comparison Brenton Strange was drafted #61 in 2023. 35 yards as a rookie. 411 yards in his second year.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

He was drafted too high. I do like him as a blocker but you probably didn't need to take him in the 3rd round.

For him to be a good pick he has to develop as a receiver too, 3 is too high for a blocker.

I think he'll develop as a receiver too. He had something like 41 catches for 420 yards and a handful of touchdowns in college.

 

[Harry]

Because you don't take a blocking TE in round 3 when there are good offensive and defensive linemen still on the board

Reiman is special. He blocks as well as many defensive linemen. However he has better agility allowing him to block better on the move. He could well develop into one of the top blocking TEs in the NFL. He also will develop as a receiver. He won’t be a big producer in this area, but could be a Max Williams type. With the team wanting to use multiple TE sets and run, he’s a solid addition.

 

[TheCardFan]

Who knows where you can find stats for Pressures for both NFL and College? @kerouac9?

 

[gmabel830]

Burden is a luxury and the Cards have basic needs

I wouldn't call getting a WR with home run potential every time he gets the ball a luxury given our current crop of WR, but I agree there are bigger needs.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Reiman is special. He blocks as well as many defensive linemen. However he has better agility allowing him to block better on the move. He could well develop into one of the top blocking TEs in the NFL. He also will develop as a receiver. He won’t be a big producer in this area, but could be a Max Williams type. With the team wanting to use multiple TE sets and run, he’s a solid addition.

I guess the question is whether that means we're going to be running tons of 12 personnel, and how that would impact the WR room in terms of acquisitions.

 

[MadCardDisease]

I guess the question is whether that means we're going to be running tons of 12 personnel, and how that would impact the WR room in terms of acquisitions.

The Cardinals already run a ton of 12 and 13 personnel. They are near the top of the league at using those formations (about 45% of the time).

 

[CardNots]

The Cardinals already run a ton of 12 and 13 personnel. They are near the top of the league at using those formations (about 45% of the time).

Which with a healthy OL, its the right play.

When almost the starting OL got rolling they were practically unstoppable or it appeared. Only injuries slowed them down. I’d like to see them fully healthy which never really happened.

 

[Chopper0080]

Which with a healthy OL, its the right play.

When almost the starting OL got rolling they were practically unstoppable or it appeared. Only injuries slowed them down. I’d like to see them fully healthy which never really happened.

I kinda disagree. It's a type of play that probably guarantees a more middle of the road outcome. So, if your plan is to be really good in one score games like KC is, you can run this scheme. If your plan is to hide your QB a bit, then this plan works. The problem comes when you have to flip the switch and depends on your QB, and step up in those one score situations.

Unless you have a Saquon type back, you are not going to have a dynamic offense using a lot of 12 or 13 personnel. If the Cardinals stick with this long term, that will probably be their next priority. Getting a back who can handle workload while also creating explosive plays. It's why adding a deep threat only really works if you increase the volume of 11 personnel you run. That or REALLY increase the vertical routes of McBride and Tip.

 

[football karma]

Getting a back who can handle workload while also creating explosive plays.

probably the Card's Benson draft premise -- bigger guy who could turn Connor's 20 yard runs into longer TDs

 

[Chopper0080]

probably the Card's Benson draft premise -- bigger guy who could turn Connor's 20 yard runs into longer TDs

It could be.

 

[CardNots]

I kinda disagree. It's a type of play that probably guarantees a more middle of the road outcome. So, if your plan is to be really good in one score games like KC is, you can run this scheme. If your plan is to hide your QB a bit, then this plan works. The problem comes when you have to flip the switch and depends on your QB, and step up in those one score situations.

Unless you have a Saquon type back, you are not going to have a dynamic offense using a lot of 12 or 13 personnel. If the Cardinals stick with this long term, that will probably be their next priority. Getting a back who can handle workload while also creating explosive plays. It's why adding a deep threat only really works if you increase the volume of 11 personnel you run. That or REALLY increase the vertical routes of McBride and Tip.

I’m guilty of longing for the days of Riggins and The Hogs. It really didn’t matter what QB was slopping the pigs.

 

[kerouac9]

I think he'll develop as a receiver too. He had something like 41 catches for 420 yards and a handful of touchdowns in college.

Over four years. Sam Laporta exceeded those totals each of his last two seasons.

 

[Chopper0080]

I’m guilty of longing for the days of Riggins and The Hogs. It really didn’t matter what QB was slopping the pigs.

The easiest path to a better Cardinals offense (outside of QB play) is more vertical elements to 11 personnel. Tip to surpass Higgins as a receiving option. Essentially increase his catches to the 25-35 range. More long TDs from the running back position.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Unless you have a Saquon type back, you are not going to have a dynamic offense using a lot of 12 or 13 personnel. If the Cardinals stick with this long term, that will probably be their next priority. Getting a back who can handle workload while also creating explosive plays. It's why adding a deep threat only really works if you increase the volume of 11 personnel you run. That or REALLY increase the vertical routes of McBride and Tip.

The Cardinals (29%) ranked 8th in 12 personnel usage behind the following playoff teams Eagles (29%), Ravens(31%), Texans(31%), Lions(32%) and Chiefs(34%).

The Cardinals (14%) ranked 2nd in 13 personnel usage. The other teams above 5% in 13 personnel were Raiders (6%), Saints (8%), Chiefs (10%) and the Steelers (15%). All other teams were 5% or less.

The Cardinals(50%) were also in the bottom half of the league in 11 personnel usage. Of the playoff teams in that range were Vikings(56%), Chargers(56%), Bills(55%), Lions(54%), Steelers(51%), Chiefs(48%). The Ravens were the lowest at around 28%.

 

[MadCardDisease]

The top teams using 11 personnel:

1. Falcons (86%)
2. Rams (81%)
3. Seahawks (77%)
4. Panthers (73%)
5. Giants (73%)
6. Bears (72%)
7. Browns (72%)
8. Bucs (71%)
9. Jets (70%)
10. Colts (70%)


Most of those teams were most likely playing from behind and forced to throw the ball more which means more 11 personnel.

 

[football karma]

The easiest path to a better Cardinals offense (outside of QB play) is more vertical elements to 11 personnel. Tip to surpass Higgins as a receiving option. Essentially increase his catches to the 25-35 range. More long TDs from the running back position.

the thing about running 12 personnel -- It **should have** created some opportunities for shots down the field

you have a max protect concept with two TEs, and, Defenses **should** have responded with a single high safety

yet, i cant remember one shot play from that formation. weird