ESPN: Cardinals have ninth-best offensive arsenal in NFL
Jul 27, 2017, 12:36 PM
Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) runs for a touchdown against the New York Jets as teammate Larry Fitzgerald (11) follows during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown and David Johnson.
Those three are the main weapons for quarterback Carson Palmer, making up most of the offensive production for the Cardinals.
Fitzgerald had a career-high 107 receptions last season, adding 1,023 yards and six touchdowns. Brown, dealing with sickle cell and a cyst, had his worst season as a pro, hauling in 39 receptions, 517 yards and just two touchdowns.
Johnson on the other hand was an All-Pro in 2016, netting a league high 2,118 all-purpose yards and 20 total touchdowns.
The trio, along with the rest of the Cardinals’ offensive weapons, rank as the ninth-best offensive arsenal in the league, according to Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com.
You can make cases for Ezekiel Elliott and Le’Veon Bell, but I’m of the volition that David Johnson was the best running back in football last season. There’s useful depth behind DJ after Arizona re-signed Chris Johnson. Bruce Arians has revitalized 33-year-old Larry Fitzgerald’s career by moving the future Hall of Famer into the slot, where he has racked up back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. John Brown should be back in form after struggling with sickle cell and a cyst on his spine last season, and while Michael Floyd has left town, the Cards should be able to piece together a third receiver rotation with J.J. Nelson and third-round pick Chad Williams. Tight end is a relative weakness, but this is still a talented bunch.
Barnwell ranked the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins as Nos. 1, 2 and 3, respectively.
