The Arizona Cardinals didn’t do much this offseason with their offense. That would signal an expectation of growth and consistency over their performance from last season.
One player who needs to do more in 2025 is third-year wideout Michael Wilson.
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After a rookie season in 2023 in which he caught 38 passes for 565 yards and three touchdowns, he had 47 receptions for 548 yards and four scores.
Arizona’s coaches are big fans of Wilson. He is good in the run game, he is a good teammate and can makes plays.
Quarterback Kyler Murray said earlier this offseason that he believes that Wilson is a 1,000-yard-type receiver in the league.
That gives Wilson a lot of confidence.
What type of player does he see himself as, though?
“The way I envision myself is a guy who can do everything,” he said on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM during minicamp. “I feel like I can play all three positions, X, F, Z, inside and outside. A guy who can be dynamic in the run game in terms of being at the point of attack as a blocker. Someone you can count on to be a possession receiver, and I know I don’t have the time speed everybody loves, but I feel like in most situations when you throw me the ball downfield, it’s going to be a catch.”
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He does see one area in which he would like to improve.
“I think my rookie year, I reached 15 yards a catch,” he said (he averaged 14.9 yards per reception as a rookie. “And so I’d like to see that number. It took a dip last year, but I’d like to be in the 13- to 15-yard average per catch this year. I think a lot of it is going to come (from) yards after catch.”
In 2024, his per-catch average dropped to 11.7. He did see more targets (71 compared to 58 as a rookie) and he had a more varied role, playing more in the slot at the end of the season, something he did less of as a rookie.
The Cardinals like having size in the receiver room and on the field. Toward the end of last season, the three-wide sets often had Wilson (6-foot-2) in the slot with Marvin Harrison Jr. (6-foot-3) and Zay Jones (6-foot-2) outside. They added 6-foot-4 Simi Fehoko in the offseason.
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Production and targets could be limited for Wilson, as tight end Trey McBride and Harrison are expected to be the top targets in the passing game. The hope is both can be 1,000-yard players in 2025.
So while Wilson getting 1,000 yards would be incredible, giving the Cardinals three 1,000-yard receivers in the same season for the first time since 2008 (Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Steve Breaston), they don’t necessarily need that from him. But if he can be a 750-yard guy averaging 15 yards per catch, the Cardinals’ passing attack will have been potent.
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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals WR Michael Wilson talks 2025 goals for productions