Arizona Cardinals 2022 Training Camp Preview
This has been quite the off-season for the Arizona Cardinals and their fans. From the Kyler Murray contract saga, DeAndre Hopkins suspension, losing locker room leader Chandler Jones and more, this team has a lot to figure out entering training camp. The Cardinals goes as Murray goes, so the No. 1 thing on the agenda of this front office should be signing Murray to an extension. What else should fans be looking forward to, especially in training camp? All that will be explained here in this training camp preview.
Three Position Battles to Watch
Tight End: Zach Ertz vs. Trey McBride
To say that Zach Ertz may have found his second wind in Arizona is probably underselling it a bit. In 2021, Ertz had his best season since 2019 and really seemed to gel well in this offense. With the aforementioned Hopkins suspension, the tight end position is likely to see an increase in targets. But Ertz is going to have stiff competition for those targets with Trey McBride. McBride, the 55th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Colorado State, was a monster in college. A good route runner with solid hands and can move well, I believe the first position battle takes place at TE.
EDGE Rusher: Cameron Thomas vs. Myjai Sanders vs. Devon Kennard
With Chandler Jones gone, as mentioned above, there is a massive hole to fill on this defensive line. Markus Golden is still in Arizona, but the question now is who plays opposite him? The Cardinals used two third-round picks on the position in Cameron Thomas out of San Deigo State and Myjai Sanders out of Cincinnati. Thomas was the far more productive college player, recording 11.5 sacks last season compared to the 2.5 produced by Sanders, so he has the advantage. But you can’t count out the vet Devon Kennard as well.
Right Guard: Josh Jones vs. Justin Murray
Both Josh Jones and Justin Murray have a lot to prove during training camp for the Arizona Cardinals in 2022. Jones, when starting last season, did a lot of good but that also came with a lot of bad as well. He certainly has room to make significant improvements this offseason. Murray played three games before a back injury derailed his season. If he can get back to 100%, he has a chance to regain the starter’s role.
Breakout Player: Hollywood Brown, WR
I am putting my disdain for him aside because, on paper, he HAS to breakout for Arizona this year. I mean, he somehow managed to record a 1,000-yard season with Lamar Jackson as his QB, now he is going to a team that is not run-heavy AND has a quarterback who can actually throw the football? In theory, we should see a massive jump in production out of Hollywood Brown.
Rookie to Watch: Trey McBride, TE
I have been on the Trey McBride train since December of last year. I had him clear as day the TE1 in the 2022 NFL Draft, and I think he went to as perfect a fit as possible. Arizona Cardinals fans should be ecstatic to have him on the squad, and I believe he will carve out a role on this team early and remain in that role all season long.
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