Arizona Cardinals could use more skill position help even with Hopkins
By Eric Newman
The Arizona Cardinals added star receiver DeAndre Hopkins this offseason but the numbers say this team might still need to add more weapons in the draft.
Even with the addition of stud wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins via trade in the 2020 offseason, statistics show the Arizona Cardinals could benefit from additions to their corps of skill players in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft, at least at wide receiver.
Since the 2008 season, which resulted in a bittersweet postseason run that ended in a loss to the Steelers in the Super Bowl, the Cardinals have ebbed and flowed in their offensive production, with plenty of memorable seasons intertwined between others of less-than-productive years.
Even without David Johnson, a former heavy lifter at running back, on the roster, the Cardinals boast a roster that totaled 1,834 rushing yards last season. Even before a potential roster addition in the draft, this signifies the second-highest total since 2008.
The only season Arizona tallied more rushing yards was 2015, in which it totaled 1,917 yards. And with Kyler Murray projected to make a leap in his second season, the Cardinals could potentially reach even higher levels of production on the ground.
However, the Cardinals’ receiving production is a different story. Since that 2008 season, the Cardinals have averaged 3,968 receiving yards per season. Despite another year of Larry Fitzgerald on the roster and the aforementioned Hopkins acquisition, Arizona’s current roster only has 3,584 total receiving yards from the 2019 season set to take the field in the 2020 campaign.
To put that in perspective, the Cardinals have only totaled less receiving yards in three seasons. In 2010, 2012 and 2018, Arizona totaled five, five and three wins, respectively.
Next. 2020 NFL Mock Draft: Cohen's first-round predictions. dark
While there are obviously more concerns than just the receiving corps to try and improve on last season’s five-win output, and the rushing statistics seem promising, the numbers suggest Arizona could use some receiving help for a quarterback still trying to capitalize on his potential.