The Arizona Cardinals could select a receiver fairly early in the 2021 NFL draft. They might use the 16th pick to select a receiver. They are also still awaiting the decision of receiver Larry Fitzgerald as to whether he will return to play an 18th NFL season or if he will retire.
But the Cardinals aren’t sitting and waiting for Fitzgerald’s decisions and aren’t going to let his decision affect the decisions they make in the draft this week.
“No matter what Larry decides, it does not affect our draft plans,” general manager Steve Keim told reporters last week. “Again, to me, you can’t have enough good players at one position. There are guys on one-year contracts, so as far as building your team and the type of depth that you have, you can never have enough good players. Obviously, Larry Fitzgerald is a great one, so you wouldn’t say no to him, either.”
The Cardinals shouldn’t bank on Fitzgerald. The fact of the matter is the longer it goes before he makes a decision, the less and less likely it seems he will be playing. It is almost like he has retired without saying he is retired.
They would naturally welcome him back, but with the moves the Cardinals have made at receiver, Fitzgerald would likely be relegated to a bit role on the offense, something that he likely would not want to have.
If the Cardinals draft a receiver early, great. They have long-term questions at the position beyond DeAndre Hopkins. But even if they did, if he wanted to return, the Cardinals would find a way for him to play.
But at this point, Cardinals fans should take the hint. It is highly unlikely Fitzgerald suits up again for another season.
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