Although Love is exciting as the Cardinals look to bounce back from a dismal three-win 2025 season, the question marks at quarterback have loomed over Arizona’s overall offensive prospects.
Jacoby Brissett attended mandatory minicamp but is still looking for a new contract. Gardner Minshew offers another veteran option in the room, but neither is likely to be a long-term answer in the desert. Third-round pick Carson Beck will have the year to fit into the equation before the Cardinals reevaluate the position for next year’s draft.
For what it’s worth, McBride has also been impressed with the young QB.
“He looks tight,” he said. “I’m like s—, bigger than me, you know? But, no, he’s a stud. He throws the ball really well. I think he has a chance to be a really good player in this league.”
McBride added: “I don’t know [starting] Week 1 unless something crazy happens, but he definitely has a chance to be a guy.”
When it comes to magic, the Cardinals will really hope it’s a case of “it takes one to know one,” as McBride has been the most dominant of the tight ends over the past two years, racking up 237 catches for 2,385 yards and 13 touchdowns while making two Pro Bowls and an All-Pro team since 2024.
His exploits, while unable to lift the Cardinals out of the league cellar, led to his four-year, $76 million extension with Arizona in April — at the time making him the league’s highest-paid offensive lineman before being surpassed weeks later by George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers.
Heading into its fifth season, McBride has begun to garner accolades and has reached financial security. In the next phase of his career, he hopes the team’s success will follow, perhaps with the help of promising rookies like Love and Beck.
“When the opportunity came to stay with Arizona and sign the record deal at the time, it was a pretty cool thing to do,” McBride said. “I was all for it. I love Arizona, man, there’s nothing about the place I hate. I sure wish we won more games, but it’s a special place. I love being there. S—, hopefully we’ll turn it around.”