Arizona Cardinals Mike LaFleur Must UNAPOLOGETICALLY HIGHLIGHT Trey McBride in 2026

The conversation focused on the evolving identity of the Arizona Cardinals offense, spotlighting the potential for Trey McBride to emerge as its unapologetic centerpiece under Mike LaFleur's system. One concept discussed was whether McBride could fill a pivotal role similar to what tight ends have occupied in Sean McVay- and LaFleur-led schemes, becoming the primary pass catcher and effectively functioning as wide receiver one within the structure, despite technically being a tight end. The discussion explored how this approach could shift defensive attention, thereby opening opportunities for the Cardinals' other weapons, especially the wide receiver group and the running backs. A key theme that emerged was the intriguing depth and competition in the running back room. Several points were raised, including the challenging offseason for Trey Benson, the addition of Tyler Allgeier and Jeremiyah Love, and the veteran presence of James Conner. The conversation questioned whether the team would keep all four running backs and speculated on the likely split of touches, with an emphasis on the differing skill sets, youth, and upside each player brings. The situational use of backs—particularly in goal-line and short-yardage scenarios—was highlighted, with skepticism about whether Jeremiyah Love’s raw talent would immediately translate into prominent red zone opportunities. The discussion also turned to the placement of Josh Sweat on the NFL's Top 100 list, evaluating whether his ranking at 78th fairly reflected his performance and reputation, especially compared to his perception as a former Eagle. Consideration was given to which other Cardinals could appear on the list, questioning if Budda Baker or Trey McBride himself might break through, and whether media and player voting biases—described as “Cardinals tax”—could affect the outcome. Reflection on McBride’s All-Pro credentials raised further questions about his potential placement among tight ends and the league’s best offensive talents. Throughout, the conversation probed the evolving identity of the Cardinals, both on the field and in the fanbase, touching on player comments regarding local support. The reflections challenged listeners to consider what a more aggressive, star-focused approach might mean for both individual development and the team’s ability to compete in a difficult schedule, consistently returning to the idea that unapologetically leveraging the team’s top talent could serve as the key to unlocking the offense’s full potential. Let's discuss.   Photo Credit: John Rondone - Imagn Images   Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started now. Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.   Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at http://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDON. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)     Find and follow Locked On Cardinals on your favorite podcast platforms:     Apple https://apple.co/3gzT6Pg Spotify https://spoti.fi/3wsOL7a Audacy https://bit.ly/3xdaqjU Stitcher https://bit.ly/3cFWffn Google https://buff.ly/2yH7WOl Megaphone https://bit.ly/2RUBlC5 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.