Which Cardinals are Mentioned in ESPN Position Rankings Based on Executives' and Coaches' Votes?

By Walter Mitchell
In July each year, ESPN publishes the results of NFL position rankings derived from the votes they receive from team executives and coaches. Thus far, we have learned the following with regard to which Cardinals are ranked or given honorable mentions: 

Execs, coaches, scouts rank top NFL guards, centers for 2026 - ESPN





2. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 5 Age: 26 | Last year's ranking: 4 McBride made a serious case for No. 1, earning more than 30% of the first-place votes. All but two of the votes were inside the top three for McBride, whose 126 catches in 2025 marked the most in a single season for a tight end in NFL history. McBride's 72.9 receiving yards per game were nearly 16 more than any other tight end. His 566 yards after the catch were 90 more than any other player at his position. And his 11 receiving touchdowns tied for second leaguewide. Long known as a receiving threat, McBride has improved his all-around game. "Ball skills, ball in hand, physical ability -- just an extremely impressive player across the board," an NFL coordinator said. "And not bad in the run game." His 71.5 receiving expected points added was easily the best among tight ends and fourth among all pass catchers, per NFL Next Gen Stats. 























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