NFL 2018: Every team’s biggest training camp battle
By Randy Gurzi
Arizona Cardinals: No. 2 Wide Receiver
Ever since they lost Anquan Boldin following the 2009 season, the Arizona Cardinals have been in an endless pursuit for the second target opposite Larry Fitzgerald. There have been many players to come through and some even have put together a solid season or two, only to flame out and go elsewhere.
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With Fitzgerald turning 35 this season, he may finally be nearing the end of the road. That means they aren’t just looking for his second, but also someone who can break out and become the new go-to guy in the desert. Second-round pick Christian Kirk out of Texas A&M could be that guy, but he has to earn it.
Even before earning that right though, he has to become the second wideout on the team. In 2018, he won’t have a ton of competition, but there will be some nonetheless.
Second-year player Chad Williams in on the roster and despite having only three catches in 2017, the team is high on him. Or at least they were high enough on him to spend a third-round pick just one year ago.
Kirk will also have to beat out Brice Butler, formerly of the Dallas Cowboys. Butler famously went on the FS1 show Undisputed and claimed he would have been better than Dez Bryant had Dallas given him more targets. As much as that entertained the masses, Butler does have a chance to become a starter in Arizona — and could be favored to start opposite Fitzgerald with Kirk in the slot.
Outside of their high-profile vet, anything is possible.