Cardinals’ Trey McBride ranked as 2nd best TE in ESPN league poll

In a recent ESPN poll voted on by league scouts, executives and coaches, the Arizona Cardinals’ Trey McBride was ranked as the second-best tight end in the NFL ahead of the 2026 season.

McBride, a near-unanimous All-Pro last season, was ranked just below Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers. San Francisco’s George Kittle (No. 3), Detroit’s Sam LaPorta (No. 4) and Indianapolis’ Tyler Warren (No. 5) rounded out the top five.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler noted McBride made a case for No. 1 in the poll, earning more than 30% of the first-place votes.

All but two of the votes were inside the top three for McBride, whose 126 catches in 2025 marked the most in a single season for a tight end in NFL history.

Long known as a receiving threat, McBride has improved his all-around game.

“Ball skills, ball in hand, physical ability — just an extremely impressive player across the board,” an NFL coordinator said. “And not bad in the run game.”

McBride played in all 17 games last season, catching 126 passes for 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns. Along with setting the record for most receptions in a season by a tight end, he also became the first tight end to record consecutive 100-catch seasons.

McBride and the Cardinals’ offense enter the 2026 season with questions looming about the starting quarterback job following veteran Jacoby Brissett’s ongoing contract negotiations and Arizona drafting Carson Beck in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The two-time Pro Bowler and the rest of the Cardinals will begin training camp on July 22.

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