Cardinals' Trey McBride sets lofty Chiefs 'connection' goal for himself and Kyler Murray

Compared to possibly immoderate different clip successful NFL history, location seems to beryllium a greater number of uniquely talented and move tight ends crossed nan convention than ever before. Consider, that during nan 2024 season, 10 of nan apical 50 spots among nan convention leaders successful receptions were occupied by tight ends. That number was 7 some 10 and 20 years ago, highlighting not only a deeper talent pool, but a much evolved approached to utilizing these big-bodied walk catchers wrong nan strategy of nan offense.

Arizona Cardinals tight extremity Trey McBride is simply a cleanable illustration of this caller breed of tight end. McBride, who was selected successful nan 2nd information of nan 2022 NFL Draft aft an illustrious profession astatine Colorado State, arrived successful nan NFL pinch a well-rounded skillset that almost instantly translated to nan pro game. Following a quiet rookie play successful which he caught conscionable 29 passes for 265 yards, McBride astir quadrupled his output successful twelvemonth two. After twelvemonth three, McBride earned his first Pro Bowl nod, and thanks to nan implementation of a saucier offenseahead of nan 2025 season, he could spot his numbers emergence again.

But it’s not conscionable a much imaginative strategy that will propel McBride into nan highest tier of nan league’s champion tight ends. There’s a chemistry he needs to beryllium developed betwixt himself and Arizona’s enigmatic backmost Kyler Murray earlier this young Cards duo tin beryllium see among nan league’s best. And aft spending immoderate clip pinch Travis Kelce astatine nan yearly Tight End University Camp successful Nashville, McBride knows what he and Murray request to beryllium aiming for.

"Travis, he would ever springiness america immoderate nuggets connected being friends to nan quarterback," McBride told ESPN's Laura Rutledge and Dan Orlovsky, per Grant Gordon of NFL.com. “Him and Mahomes person a bully relationship and I benignant of took that and was like, 'Why can't Kyler and I person that aforesaid connection?' I consciousness for illustration that's what I tried to do. I tried to person that aforesaid narration and that maturation pinch Kyler and conscionable proceed to make plays for him and beryllium that information blanket. If he needs location to spell pinch nan ball, he ever tin propulsion it to maine and that's what I'm trying to do for him."

From a axenic accumulation standpoint, Murray and McBride aren’t that acold disconnected from wherever Mahomes and Kelce person been each of nan past 2 seasons.

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Murray (2023-24) – 226.0 walk yards per game, 68% completion, 31 passing touchdowns, 16 interceptions, 92.2 passer rating, 32.6 unreserved yards per game, 8 rushing touchdowns

Mahomes (2023-24) – 253.5 walk yards per game, 67% completion, 53 passing touchdowns, 25 interceptions, 93.0 passer rating, 21.8 unreserved gait per game, 2 rushing touchdowns  

McBride (2023-24) – 253 targets, 192 receptions, 1,971 yards, 5 touchdowns

Kelce (2023-24) – 254 targets, 190 receptions, 1,807 yards, 8 touchdowns

It should beryllium mentioned that Travis Kelce is astatine a overmuch different spot successful his profession than Trey McBride is. Kelce’s wheels person a batch much miles than McBride’s do, and until McBride replicates this benignant of accumulation complete nan people of a decade, immoderate comparisons to Kelce should astatine nan very slightest beryllium taken pinch a atom of salt. But frankly, it would beryllium overmuch much meticulous to opportunity that it’s Kyler Murray who is much apt to support this duo backmost from perchance becoming Mahomes-Kelce lite retired successful nan desert.