Arizona Cardinals TE Trey McBride was very difficult to cover in 2024
“If he needs somewhere to go with the ball, he always can throw it to me”
Trey McBride on his relationship with Kyler 🤝 pic.twitter.com/Tm5bMRya8J
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) June 24, 2025
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride totaled 111 receptions in 2024. While McBride only registered two receiving touchdowns the entire season, his dominance as a pass catcher and blocker shouldn’t be overstated. Just ask quarterback Kyler Murray, who targeted McBride a total of 147 times through 16 games played last season.
McBride is a pure luxury for the team, especially on bootleg passing and play-action play concepts. Specifically, McBride excels when the Cardinals offense is operating out of 11, 12, and 13 personnel. These personnel packages force the opposing defense to deploy more linebackers into their packages and allow for McBride to line up versus defenders without the size and speed needed to inhibit him. McBride’s agility and stature pose as a superior threat to opposing teams in the NFC, especially the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks, who have been looking to revamp the front seven on their rosters.
For now, NFL defensive coordinators know that when McBride lines up on offense, they better have an adequate defender able to keep him at bay. McBride will only improve in his fourth NFL season and third year with offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. Certainly, Petzing has likely taken note of just how effective and dominant a player he has in his Pro Bowl tight end.
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