Cardinals breakout candidates: Parsing the other young receivers

Heading into the Arizona Cardinals’ expected start of training camp on July 28, let’s take a peek at the team’s potential breakout candidates — the guys who could come out of nowhere to give the team something surprising as we project their 2020 season.

The list, which we’re rolling out in no particular order, will include players yet to solidify themselves as NFL starters. While that is mostly made up of second-year pros, there are older vets included. We won’t touch on rookies because, well, they’ve yet to set expectations for themselves as pros.

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Second-year receiver Andy Isabella got individual mention in this series because he’s the most dynamic in terms of skillset. He’s also the most under-the-microscope because he was a second-round pick, what the Arizona Cardinals got in return through the trade of quarterback Josh Rosen to the Miami Dolphins.

But the Cardinals, if you remember, drafted three receivers in 2019 to stock head coach Kliff Kingsbury with a diverse group of options.

Hakeem Butler (fourth round) and KeeSean Johnson (sixth round) are back along with Isabella, as is third-year undrafted pro Trent Sherfield. Gone are Damiere Byrd and Pharoh Cooper, two young vets who took advantage of the Cardinals’ offense to further establish themselves as wide receivers under the guidance of receivers coach David Raih and offensive assistant Jerry Sullivan.

Relying on a youth movement could be concerning if we look at the numbers. Despite a shortened offseason, there will be opportunity for them to win more reps and, Arizona hopes, produce alongside starters DeAndre Hopkins, Christian Kirk and Larry Fitzgerald.

Here’s what we know about each of them.

KeeSean Johnson

Isabella and Johnson ranked 26th and 27th in their entire draft class in terms of total receiving yards (189 and 187, respectively). Not incredibly inspiring numbers. Each of them scored a single touchdown on the year.

It was Johnson who earned 10 targets in the 2019 opener against the Detroit Lions, producing season highs of five catches for 46 yards. From there, his role was erratic.

Johnson lost a fumble in Week 11 and for the rest of the year frequented the inactive list without any known injuries. The Cardinals loved him for his smooth route-running, and he looked like an instant-impact guy throughout training camp in 2019. He has the skillset to build himself into a reliable option, but there’s competition, of course.

Trent Sherfield

Sherfield stood out during an abysmal 2018 season for the Cardinals, catching 19 balls for 210 yards.

He returned last year only to receive 13 targets, making four catches for 80 yards on the year. Some of the catches he made were damn tough.

Sherfield grinds, and he’s a well-liked guy in the locker room. Like Johnson, Arizona is confident with him playing at any receiver spot in a pinch, and he rewarded that confidence with a few impressive contested catches throughout camp, the preseason and regular season.

Also a playmaker on the special teams unit, he has security. Can he force his way into more offensive snaps?

Hakeem Butler

Butler showed inconsistencies all through training camp, running with the backups and behind Isabella or Johnson. Matters got worse in the preseason, when he suffered a finger injury in Week 3. Arizona made the decision to shut him down for the year. On injured reserve, the 6-foot-5 receiver wasn’t allowed to practice with the team, taking away on-field opportunities for growth.

It was a huge loss for a draft pick who projects as a lanky jump-ball receiver, a type Arizona doesn’t have outside of Hopkins.

Pressure is on Butler to make some headway when camp begins, and obviously the coronavirus-restricted offseason didn’t help him convince Arizona’s decision-makers he’s ready to contribute.

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