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TEMPE, Ariz. -- It seems like all the criticism the Arizona Cardinals receivers took during training camp has died down. The unit has gotten healthy and began playing more consistently toward the end of camp. Still, there are questions.
Overall, I think this receiver group can be solid. It'll have a lot of speed and good depth, and give quarterback Carson Palmer enough options to improve on last year's offense. Here's what we know about the Cardinals' wide receiver room: There are five spots secure out of six, maybe seven, potential openings. It's tough to argue that Larry Fitzgerald, Jaron Brown, John Brown, J.J. Nelson and Chad Williams won't make the 53. That leaves six players vying for one, maybe two spots. But realistically the battle will be between Brittan Golden, Jeremy Ross and Aaron Dobson.  Two weeks ago, head coach Bruce Arians said the Cardinals will "probably" keep six. That gives him the flexibility to keep seven.
But what I think what this group of receivers will be missing is a clear-cut No. 2 option to Fitzgerald, like it had the last five years with Michael Floyd. What Floyd gave Arizona was a tall, big-bodied receiver who could work the sideline and take a big hit across the middle. Floyd was 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds. No other receiver on the current roster -- aside from Fitzgerald and rookie Krishawn Hogan, who will likely end up on Arizona’s practice squad -- fits that type of profile. Ross is 6-feet and 215. Dobson is 6-3 and 205 pounds. Jaron Brown is 6-2 and 205 pounds. While I think the Cardinals can still be successful -- quite successful, at that -- with the current crop of receivers, I do also think they would benefit from adding a receiver the size of Floyd.
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