The Arizona Cardinals' offense has the big names, of course.
There's quarterback Kyler Murray, running back James Conner, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and tight end Trey McBride.
But what about Tip Reiman? He's more important than you think.
The Cardinals clearly liked him, taking him in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Illinois. The South Dakota native wasn't chosen to take McBride's place, though, even though he's nominally a tight end.
Reiman is an offensive enhancer.
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The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue explained it like this:
"The Cardinals’ offense will continue to run through its tight ends, and Trey McBride is the star. But look out for the second-year Reiman when Arizona wants to run the ball in 12 personnel (two tight ends) and especially 13 personnel (three tight ends). Reiman brings the Cardinals’ run game to life with a style of blocking that is demoralizing to his opponent."
Reiman played in all 17 games as a rookie, starting nine.
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He had only six catches on seven targets for 37 yards. But the Cardinals had him on the field for 41.1% of offensive snaps, a number that will likely only rise this season as they continue to figure out new ways to utilize Reiman to full effect.
He's not someone that will stand out in a modern football world concerned with statistics for fantasy football. But for the Cardinals, Reiman is crucial.
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