The Arizona Cardinals are in their offseason and looking ahead to 2025.
But while we are in the offseason, it is time to look back at the 2024 season and give some recognitions for player performances.
On the podcast, we discussed player awards and superlatives. Now we will put our picks in written form.
We continue with the team’s offensive player of the year for 2024.
Who was the Cardinals’ offensive player of the year? Howard Balzer and I give our picks.
Cardinals 2024 offensive player of the year
Jess Root: TE Trey McBride
There were only two real choices and the choice was clear. Running back James Conner, whom I named the Cardinals’ 2024 MVP, had a career year for the second straight season, but McBride had a record-breaking season and one of the best tight end seasons in NFL history.
After setting the franchise single-season record for receptions by a tight end in 2023 with 81, he blew past that with 111 catches, and totaled 1,146 yards.
He has become one of the very best tight ends in the NFL and produced more catches and receiving yards than anyone else on the team.
Howard Balzer: TE Trey McBride
McBride picked up where he left off at the end of the 2023 season and compiled 111 receptions (on 147 targets) for 1,146 yards and two touchdowns, although he added two touchdowns on a running play and fumble recovery in the end zone.
Playing 934 offensive snaps, he was fourth in the NFL in receptions and second among tight ends, while ranking 11th in yards. McBride had three 100-yard games and also had five games with eight or more receptions including three with 12 catches.
As for consistency, McBride averaged 10.2 yards per reception in 2023 and 10.3 in 2024 while catching 76.4 percent of his targets last season and 75.5 percent in 2024.
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