Elijah Higgins

Trey McBride set an NFL TE single-season receptions record in 2025 (126 catches) and signed a 4-year, $76M extension. He is immovable at TE1 and will command the majority of TE targets for the foreseeable future.

Higgins is the TE3 on the depth chart, sitting behind both McBride and Tip Reiman. His 2025 line of 30 receptions, 301 yards, and zero touchdowns over 17 games reflects a near-irrelevant role even at full health.

Higgins failed to score a single touchdown in 2025 despite playing all 17 games and starting 10. For a TE to have dynasty value, red-zone usage is critical, and he has none.

Tip Reiman fractured his ankle in Week 5 of 2025 and went to season-ending IR, which vacated the TE2 role that boosted Higgins' 2025 volume. Reiman has two years remaining on his rookie contract and is expected to compete for the TE2 role in 2026 upon recovery.

Kyler Murray was released in March 2026; the Cardinals enter the year with a Brissett/Minshew bridge and rookie Carson Beck, lowering near-term passing efficiency and concentrating remaining target equity on McBride and the WRs.

Higgins is under contract through 2026 but projects as an unrestricted free agent after this season, adding uncertainty to his role as a long-term dynasty hold at ARI.

Tip Reiman is dealing with an ankle injury heading into 2026, which could open the TE2 role for Higgins and marginally improve his target floor — though this remains a fringe role given McBride's dominance.

New head coach Mike LaFleur (ex-Rams OC) and new OC Nathaniel Hackett bring fresh offensive identity. LaFleur's Rams offense did feature multi-TE sets at times, leaving a narrow possibility Higgins earns a defined role in 2-TE packages.

At 25 years old and still on a cost-controlled rookie deal, Higgins has the age profile and athleticism to become a legitimate starter on a TE-needy team if a trade or release materializes after 2026.

Any McBride absence would funnel a massive target share to the next man up; Higgins (10 starts in 2025) profiles as the likely emergency beneficiary over blocking-first Reiman.

Arizona's 2026 draft class (Carson Beck QB, Jeremiyah Love RB, Reggie Virgil WR) includes no TE additions, leaving Higgins' TE2 roster spot uncontested from the draft class.