Latest news with #DougHaller
USA Today
16 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Arizona Cardinals' biggest takeaway from offseason program is bigger Marvin Harrison Jr.
The Athletic's Doug Haller adds to the talk about the bulking up of Marvin Harrison jr. Every NFL team is on summer break as they finished their offseason programs. Training camps will begin next month. But there was a lot to take away from their offseason work and practices. For the Arizona Cardinals, a lot has been said about the physique of second-year receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. The Athletic had one takeaway from every team's offseason program. For the Cardinals, naturally it was about Harrison and his bulking up. From Doug Haller: The Cardinals expect Marvin Harrison Jr., to make a jump. The former Ohio State receiver — the No. 4 pick in 2024 — had an uneven rookie season. He struggled to make contested catches. His rhythm with QB Kyler Murray was off. Over the offseason Harrison bulked up. His arms were noticeably bigger. 'I thought it was AI,' Murray said, jokingly. 'I thought those pictures were fake.' That's not the only change: Murray has noticed a different comfort level with Harrison, a different confidence. Arizona increased from four wins to eight during the first two seasons under head coach Jonathan Gannon. To make the playoffs in Year 3, the Cardinals will need Harrison to turn into the No. 1 receiver everyone expected. Harrison is almost unanimously the player expected to have a breakout season in 2025. He is bigger. He added some weight. But most second-year players have a noticeable body transformation from their first year in the pros. Harrison wasn't the only one. Defensive lineman Darius Robinson. Guard Isaiah Adams got stronger. But with all the expectations that Harrison entered the league with, any change will be noticed. Hopefully his biceps aren't the only thing about him that look noticeably bigger. The Cardinals need the production in 2025 like that, too. What we can expect from Marvin Harrison Jr. in 2025 historically Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
New York Times
03-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Cardinals make Trey McBride highest-paid tight end in NFL history with 4-year extension
By Dianna Russini, Doug Haller and Cale Clinton The Arizona Cardinals announced a massive extension with third-year tight end Trey McBride Thursday afternoon. The four-year extension is worth $76 million with $43 million guaranteed, a team source confirmed to The Athletic. McBride's $19 million in average annual value (AAV) makes him the highest-paid tight end in NFL history, while his $43 million is the most guaranteed money for a tight end in the league, according to Over the Cap. The 25-year-old's contract resets the market for a new wave of tight ends. Before his record-setting extension, four of the top five tight end contracts by AAV were held by players 30 years or older. Advertisement The Cardinals drafted McBride 55th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. In just his second season, he led Arizona in receptions (81) and receiving yards (825) while starting just 12 of his 17 appearances. In 2024, McBride once again led the team in both metrics, with his 111 receptions fourth among all receivers and his 1,146 receiving yards second among all tight ends. Over the last two seasons, McBride's 192 receptions led all tight ends in the league, while his 1,971 receiving yards were second to only George Kittle. GM Monti Ossenfort made it clear at the NFL Scouting Combine that locking up McBride was a priority. 'Absolutely,'' he said. 'Trey's a guy that does everything the right way. He's a good leader for us on and off the field, he works, he prepares and he produces.' Since Arizona drafted McBride in the second round of the 2022 draft, he's gotten better every season. At first, with him playing behind Zach Ertz, it was hard to see. In 2023, however, it became clear. McBride replaced an injured Ertz as the team's primary tight end and became the Cardinals' top receiving threat. He broke a team record for catches by a tight end with 81 and produced a team-high 825 receiving yards. Last season, McBride was even better, emerging as one of the top tight ends in the game, a playmaker and security blanket for quarterback Kyler Murray. His 111 catches were fourth highest by a tight end in league history. Throughout the season, Murray said McBride, 25, was still growing, still improving. Head coach Jonathan Gannon said the same at the combine. 'He's not a one-trick pony,' Gannon said. 'He can block in the run game. He can beat you on first, second and third level. Run after the catch. … But the mental part of the game I think he can take strides. The physical part of the game I think he can take strides. He's got a lot of good ball in him left.' Advertisement In his short time in Arizona, Ossenfort has done a nice job reshaping the roster, and also keeping important building blocks in place. In the past year, he has signed safety Budda Baker and running back James Conner to extensions. Now McBride. It's given fans confidence in the organization's direction. — Doug Haller, Arizona senior writer
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pass rusher to Cardinals in NFL writers mock draft
We have another mock draft in which the Arizona Cardinals land a pass rusher. Largely viewed as the Cardinals' biggest need this offseason, it should not be a surprise. The Athletic had its team beat writers project the picks of the teams they cover. Doug Haller's pick was Tennessee pass rusher James Pearce Jr with the 16th pick of the draft. Since GM Monti Ossenfort arrived in 2023, the Cardinals have built a solid foundation and improved from four wins to eight. It's time to make a move. Before making this pick, we had discussions with Cleveland for elite pass rusher Myles Garrett, but could not work out a deal. That's OK. The explosive Pearce produced 17.5 sacks and 28 TFLs over his last two SEC seasons and fills Arizona's biggest need. Perhaps the most exciting thing about Pearce is his upside. Pearce's projections vary wildly right now. Some project him to go in the middle of the first round and some don't expect him to be selected until Round 2. Right now, with Pearce's size (6-foot-3, 243 pounds) and his production, it is a pick that makes sense at a position the Cardinals drastically need more from. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts. This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Pass rusher to Cardinals in NFL writers mock draft
USA Today
25-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Pass rusher to Cardinals in NFL writers mock draft
We have another mock draft in which the Arizona Cardinals land a pass rusher. Largely viewed as the Cardinals' biggest need this offseason, it should not be a surprise. The Athletic had its team beat writers project the picks of the teams they cover. Doug Haller's pick was Tennessee pass rusher James Pearce Jr with the 16th pick of the draft. Since GM Monti Ossenfort arrived in 2023, the Cardinals have built a solid foundation and improved from four wins to eight. It's time to make a move. Before making this pick, we had discussions with Cleveland for elite pass rusher Myles Garrett, but could not work out a deal. That's OK. The explosive Pearce produced 17.5 sacks and 28 TFLs over his last two SEC seasons and fills Arizona's biggest need. Perhaps the most exciting thing about Pearce is his upside. Pearce's projections vary wildly right now. Some project him to go in the middle of the first round and some don't expect him to be selected until Round 2. Right now, with Pearce's size (6-foot-3, 243 pounds) and his production, it is a pick that makes sense at a position the Cardinals drastically need more from. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
