A Look at the Cardinals’ Wide Receiver Situation Heading into 2024

The Cardinals rolled up 436 total yards of offense and 29 points against the 49ers’ elite defense on Sunday.

Pretty impressive.

Except, almost the entirety of the damage was done by the rushing attack and the tight ends.

For a second straight game, the wide receivers were virtually invisible, totaling just 20 receiving yards on 13 targets. Top wideout Hollywood Brown was not targeted, as a troublesome heel injury shortened his day, while Michael Wilson was held without a catch.

Rondale Moore caught a pair of bubble screens for five yards and once again did nothing downfield, while Greg Dortch had just two catches for 15 yards.

It’s becoming a problem, and it’s clear the team needs to upgrade for the 2024 NFL season. 

Here is my look at the current group, the free agent class and the draft crop as we figure out what the personnel may look like next season.

Cardinals’ Wideouts Under Contract

• Michael Wilson: The third-round pick has flashed this season, with 28 catches for 435 yards and two touchdowns. But he has missed four games due to injury, and the production has varied from week to week. Wilson has a lot of promise, but based on the durability questions, he should be penciled in as a third or fourth option at the position in 2024.

• Rondale Moore: The former second round pick is under contract for one more season, but he’s had one of the most disappointing seasons of anyone on the Cardinals. Moore has stayed healthy, which was always the issue, but has only 31 catches for 265 yards and a touchdown all year. He is cheap enough to remain on the roster in 2024, but as a fourth receiver/gadget option, being used for deep shots and in the backfield, but no longer as the primary slot.
   
• Zach Pascal: The veteran has contributed nothing on offense. The Cardinals would save $1.92 million against the cap by releasing him, and it would also be addition by subtraction so they could get a more promising player in the wideout room.

Cardinals’ Pending Free Agents

• Hollywood Brown: A contract extension seemed likely a few weeks ago, but Brown has absolutely cratered of late, with a heel injury that refuses to heal and next-to-no production on the field. At his best, Brown is a field spacer and big-play threat that also has the route-running chops to win in the intermediate area of the field, all of which are valuable. The Cardinals could definitely still use him next year as a good No. 2 receiver, but the continual foot injuries and his asking price could be a stumbling block. If Brown wants big money in free agency, Arizona likely let’s him walk at this point. But is anyone going to be willing to pay? The best play for both parties may be a one-year prove-it deal, where the Cardinals can evaluate Brown for another season with a true No. 1 on the other side, while Hollywood can get healthy and hope to cash in after the 2024 season.
   
• Greg Dortch: Dortch has always put up decent numbers when given a chance on offense, but both the last coaching staff and this one has hesitated to give him a full-time slot role, which does say something. Dortch could be brought back at a cheap price and the Cardinals may choose to do that, but the room also needs way more size. Moore should be back, and if Brown does stay, Dortch could very well go elsewhere in 2024.

First-Round Draft Options

• Marvin Harrison, Jr: The Cardinals are currently in line to draft third overall. The Ohio State uber-prospect is widely expected to be the third player taken behind Caleb Williams and Drake Maye. What sweet, sweet synergy. The push for Arizona to trade down or take a lineman is understandable, but Harrison is too good of a prospect to pass up. He is a dominant athlete who is 6-foot-4, and would become the Cardinals’ top wideout the minute he is drafted. The pairing of Harrison, Jr. and Trey McBride would give Kyler Murray two great options for the foreseeable future.

• Malik Nabers: The LSU product is projected to go in the middle of the first round. If the Cardinals end up at No. 2 in the draft, they could trade down, which may bring Nabers into play. He is four inches shorter than Harrison but a dynamic player who would also slot in as the team’s best wideout.
   
• Rome Odunze/Keon Coleman/Emeka Egbuka: The Cardinals’ pick from the Texans is currently slated to land at 17. All three of these wideouts are intriguing and could be around when Arizona is on the clock. If Harrison, Jr. is the pick, the Cardinals won’t be taking another wide receiver in the first round, but if he goes elsewhere, Arizona could take a close eye at these prospects.

Top Free Agent Options

• Tee Higgins: The Bengals’ star had a ridiculous touchdown catch against the Vikings on Sunday and would be a No. 1 receiver on many other teams. Cincinnati would surely love to keep him and may lock up Higgins, but if he hits the open market, the 25-year-old would have plenty of suitors. The Cardinals have the cap space to chase a big fish or two in free agency. Would Higgins be one? The draft is so deep that is seems unlikely, especially with all the holes on defense.

• Mike Evans: This is a more intriguing option. Evans has been a dominant player for years and is still only 30 years old. Some decline may be coming but if the Cardinals want a top-tier wideout on a shorter deal in order to kickstart the offense, Evans feels like a possibility. Pursuit of someone like this would mean the Cardinals are definitely trying to compete in 2024.
   
• Michael Pittman, Jr.: Pittman has already reached 1,000 receiving yards this season and at 26 years old is another player who should cash in. The Colts have $74 million in cap space and a quarterback on a rookie deal, so it would really surprise me if Indy allows Pittman to get away this offseason.
   
• Calvin Ridley: It’s been a solid-but-not-spectacular year for Ridley in Jacksonville. The Jaguars still have Trevor Lawrence on a cheap cap number next season so they will be pushing for a Super Bowl. Keeping Ridley makes sense, but if he does hit the market, maybe the Cardinals take a look. However, Ridley will already by 29 next season, not that much younger than Evans.

2024 Arizona Cardinals Wide Receiver Projection

The most likely scenario is the addition of Marvin Harrison, Jr. at the top of the draft. Michael Wilson and Rondale Moore will fill in the third and fourth wide receiver spots, and the Cardinals will then need to decide between Hollywood Brown and another free-agent option to be the No. 2 wide receiver. 

GM Monti Ossenfort shouldn’t overpay there, because Harrison, Jr. and Trey McBride are enough to do the heavy lifting on offense, but if someone like Evans can be had, this wide receiver group could be completely transformed in one offseason.