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The Cardinals could say goodbye to a generational wide receiver this offseason, and could, possibly, say hello to another.
Future Hall-of-Famer Larry Fitzgerald is weighing the decision to hang up the cleats or run it back for a 17th season, and the Cardinals are deciding whether to use their eighth overall draft pick on a receiver that could either replace Fitzgerald on the depth chart or play alongside him in 2020.
The predictions
The most popular prediction for the Cardinals eighth-overall pick in mock drafts is wide receiver CeeDee Lamb out of Oklahoma, though predictions are pretty split when it comes to the Cardinals. Lamb was only predicted to be picked by Arizona in about a third of mock drafts.
The next most popular predictions to land in Glendale are edge rusher A.J. Epenesa out of Iowa and offensive tackle Andrew Thomas out of Georgia.
Most mocks have Thomas being selected before the Cardinals are on the clock. Iowa's Tristan Wirfs is another offensive tackle connected to the Cardinals in several mock drafts.
While few predict any wide receivers to be taken before the Cardinals' eighth-pick, there's no consensus on who the best receiver in the draft is. Several mock drafts have the Cardinals taking Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy over Lamb as the first receiver selected.
Other receivers projected as possible first-round picks are Jeudy's Alabama teammate Henry Ruggs III, Colorado's Laviska Shenault Jr., TCU's Jalen Reagor and Clemson's Tee Higgins, who played on the Cardinals' field in the Fiesta Bowl and will play in the upcoming College Football Championship against LSU if healthy as he deals with a head injury.
Lamb lead all candidates with 1,327 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. Higgins (1,115 and 13) and Jeudy (1,163 and 10) were not far behind.
Lamb, Shenault and Reagor have declared for the draft while Jeudy, Higgins and Ruggs have not. Monday, Jan. 20 is the deadline.
Other needs
Wide reciever is far from the Cardinals' only offseason need.
New offensive-minded coach Kliff Kingbury and first-overall pick in 2019 Kyler Murray resurrected the Cardinals' offense from dead last in 2018 to a mid-tier offense in 2019. While the Cards' D ranked among the worst in the league in 2018, it took a step back in 2019, as they gave up the most yards per game of any team.
The Cardinals have needs at basically every position group except quarterback, but the thought behind a receiver is that adding another reliable target for Murray could kick the offense into another gear in its second year.
2019 receivers
The Cardinals drafted three receivers in 2019, but none had a big impact on the field. Second-rounder Andy Isabella and sixth-rounder KeeSean Johnson had 189 and 187 receiving yards, respectively, and a touchdown apiece. Fourth-rounder Hakeem Butler missed his enitre rookie season with a broken finger.
Past WR 1st-rounders
The Cardinals got everything they could have every dreamed of after drafting Fitzgerald third overall out of Pittsburgh in 2004. He's been a Pro Bowler 11 times and is second to only Jerry Rice in career receptions and receiving yards.
Drafting a receiver in the first round is no guarantee to be a Fitz clone, however.
After drafting being drafted eighth overall by the Cardinals in 1999, David Boston out of Ohio State looked like he was on his way to being something special — leading the NFL in receiving yards in 2001 — before his career was stunted and cut short by injury and off-the-field issues.
The Cardinals picked Bryant Johnson out of Penn. State 17th overall in 2003, but his career peaked at a 740-yard, four-touchdown season.
The only receiver that the Cardinals have taken in the first round since Fitzgerald was Michael Floyd out of Notre Dame with the 13th overall pick in 2012. Floyd showed promise after a 1,041-yard, five-touchdown sophomore season, but by 2017, he was relegated to a backup role with the Vikings. This season, at age 29, he couldn't make an NFL roster.
Mark Carlisle Associate Editor | Daily Independent @mwcarlisle
Mark is passionate about accurately informing his readers to what is happening in their community. He also loves reading and writing about sports.
Mark has worked for Independent Newsmedia for five years. He married his high school sweetheart, adopted a boxer mix, and awaits his first child.
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