Story perspectives

Cardinals tank, McBride chases TE1; Bears’ Loveland leads receivers

7/11/2026

Summary

Cardinals Struggle

The Arizona Cardinals are among the NFL’s worst in 2026, likely fighting for the first overall pick.
Tight end Trey McBride aims to repeat as TE1 after 18.6 points per game last season.
Brock Bowers enters his third NFL season under offensive coach Klint Kubiak, who ran a top-three scoring offense.
Colston Loveland, the Bears’ TE3, became the team’s receiving leader and TE2 from weeks 9-18 under Ben Johnson.

Summary

Cardinals Sign McBride

The Cardinals signed McBride to a record-breaking extension that makes him the league’s highest-paid tight end.
Arizona entered the 2026 offseason after dismissing its head coach and starting quarterback, resetting those positions after a three-win campaign.
The 2026 schedule ranks among the NFL’s toughest, worsening expectations for the NFC West bottom team.
ESPN’s tight-end ranking sparked a debate over whether production or projected upside should carry more weight.

Summary

Tight Ends Surge

Tight ends recorded 231 touchdowns last season, the most since 2013, and captured a record 23.8% of all targets.
Teams field multiple tight ends to exploit size versus safeties, speed versus linebackers, and aid run blocking.
Isaiah Likely and Chig Okonkwo are expanding the tight-end talent pool.
In 2025 only seven of the top twelve tight ends averaged six-plus targets per game, prompting fantasy owners to favor them.

History

Historical Context

In August 2020 the Kansas City Chiefs locked tight end Travis Kelce into a four-year, $57 million deal, making him the league’s highest-paid tight end at the time. His record-setting contract helped start a league-wide trend of escalating tight-end salaries, which the Arizona Cardinals continued in 2026 by extending rookie Trey McBride as they rebuild after a three-win season.

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Cardinals Struggle

The Arizona Cardinals are among the NFL’s worst in 2026, likely fighting for the first overall pick.
Tight end Trey McBride aims to repeat as TE1 after 18.6 points per game last season.
Brock Bowers enters his third NFL season under offensive coach Klint Kubiak, who ran a top-three scoring offense.
Colston Loveland, the Bears’ TE3, became the team’s receiving leader and TE2 from weeks 9-18 under Ben Johnson.

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