Trey McBride had a breakout 2024 season, earning his first Pro Bowl motion and securing a four-year, $76 cardinal hold pinch nan Arizona Cardinals. Now, arsenic he continues to emergence among nan league’s apical tight ends, McBride is mounting his sights moreover higher — connected becoming nan adjacent Travis Kelce.

Speaking this week from Tight End University, an yearly acme for NFL tight ends founded by Kelce, George Kittle and Greg Olsen, McBride shared really a caller speech pinch nan Kansas City Chiefs prima reshaped his mindset.

“Travis, he would ever springiness america his nuggets connected being friends to nan quarterback,” McBride said during an ESPN segment. “Make judge you and your backmost are connected nan aforesaid page. He plays pinch a small freedom. 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’ve tried to do. I’ve tried to person that aforesaid narration and that maturation pinch Kyler and conscionable proceed to make plays for him and beryllium that information broad wherever 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.”

McBride’s aspirations travel astatine a captious clip for nan Cardinals. Quarterback Kyler Murray, entering his seventh NFL season, has been nan subject of offseason scrutiny, pinch galore analysts calling 2025 a “prove-it” year. Murray’s talent has ne'er been successful doubt, but consistency, health, and activity person been questioned.

Fortunately for Arizona, nan supporting formed has improved. Along pinch McBride’s continued emergence, nan squad has erstwhile first information prime Marvin Harrison Jr., Zay Jones and Michael Wilson, providing Murray pinch arguably his champion arsenal yet.

“The Los Angeles Rams are nan NFC West favourite successful galore eyes, but nan Cardinals person capable firepower to make it an intriguing race. There’s besides nan third-place schedule Arizona will face, giving it a trio of easier games (in theory, astatine least) complete nan Rams successful nan divisional race,” SI's Matt Verderame said.

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The Cardinals haven’t made nan playoffs since 2021, but pinch a favorable schedule and a roster afloat of young talent, there’s existent optimism successful nan desert. McBride’s chemistry pinch Murray could beryllium nan x-factor — particularly if it evolves into thing reminiscent of Kelce and Mahomes.

If that relationship forms, don’t count nan Cardinals retired successful a competitory NFC West.