Trey McBride

Moving on from Kyler Murray is a given at this stage, but the team also needs a fresh start from an offensive ecosystem standpoint. Arizona moved off of head coach Jonathan Gannon in favor of Mike LaFleur this offseason. Offensive scheme changes under new coaching typically create target volume volatility.

At 3-13, the Cardinals have tied their worst record in the modern era. For a team that won eight games in 2024 and had playoff aspirations, this season fell far below expectations. Organizational dysfunction could impact draft investment in offense.

Kyler Murray was officially released in March 2026 (signed with Vikings), leaving Arizona with Jacoby Brissett (skipping OTAs seeking starter-money extension), Gardner Minshew (backup), and rookie Carson Beck (R3, No. 65). No starting QB has been named, and the org is in genuine flux at the most important position.

Mike LaFleur's hire brings scheme uncertainty despite his Rams pedigree. While McBride produced under both Murray and Brissett, LaFleur may redistribute targets differently, and the Cardinals finished 3-14 with organizational dysfunction that could impact offensive investment.

A significant portion of McBride's historic 2025 production (TE1 by a wide margin) coincided with Jacoby Brissett at QB, who ranked 2nd among all QBs in fantasy points generated for receivers (65.8 FPG). Brissett's replacement — whether by a rookie or Minshew — creates meaningful regression risk.

HC Mike LaFleur explicitly prioritized running the ball in the 2026 draft (Love R1P3) and stated 'explosives' and ball security are his offensive cornerstones. A ball-control approach with a weak QB room may suppress total passing attempts, capping McBride's raw target ceiling even with monopoly TE usage.

McBride has established himself as Arizona's primary receiving weapon with consistent target volume and red zone touches. He remains the focal point of the passing game and should see continued high-volume opportunities.

McBride finished as PPR TE1 last season (315.9 pts, 18.6 PPG) with zero credible TE competition on the roster — Elijah Higgins at 430 dynasty value is a non-factor, making McBride's positional monopoly nearly absolute.

McBride commanded a 27% target share with 169 targets in 2025, leading all tight ends. With Marvin Harrison Jr. struggling and Michael Wilson as the WR2, McBride remains the clear focal point of Arizona's passing attack regardless of QB.

At 26, McBride is entering the statistical prime window for tight ends (typically 26–30). He has multiple peak-value seasons ahead, making any buy-low opportunity during offseason QB uncertainty extremely valuable.

McBride's $76M four-year extension through 2029 ($32.5M guaranteed at signing) makes him the highest-paid TE in NFL history and eliminates all departure or franchise-tag risk through his prime years at age 26-30.

McBride averaged 21.1 PPG with Brissett versus just 12.5 PPG with Murray — the QB transition is actually net positive. He set an NFL record for consecutive games with 5+ receptions, confirming his production is volume-driven, not QB-dependent.