Tag: Michael Wilson

3 Cardinals rookies appear to have starting jobs locked up

Paris Johnson, Michael WIlson, Kei’Trel Clark all sat out the preseason finale against the Vikings.

The Arizona Cardinals did not play their starters in their preseason finale on Saturday against the Minnesota Vikings. Three rookies were among those not dressing for the game.

What does that mean? It would appear that these three Cardinals draft picks have secured a spot in the starting lineup or at least a solid spot in the playing rotation.

AZCardinals.com’s Darren Urban noted that tackle Paris Johnson, the Cardinals’ first-round pick, receiver Michael Wilson, selected in the third round, and cornerback Kei’Trel Clark, a fifth-round selection, were all in street clothes before the game.

Johnson will be the Cardinals’ starting right tackle. He has worked there all offseason.

Wilson appears to have locked up a starting spot at receiver. He started with Marquise Brown in the Cardinals’ preseason game last week against the Kansas City Chiefs. He will at least be among the Cardinals’ top four receivers in the offensive rotation.

Clark started at cornerback last week against the Chiefs opposite Marco Wilson. He likely has locked up at least a spot in the top three cornerback rotation.

The youth movement for the Cardinals has officially begun. After years of rookies being brought along slowly, often out of necessity, they are going all in, trying to compete with rookies in the lineup.

At least one other rookie, linebacker BJ Ojulari, their second-round pick, also figures to play a role in the defensive rotation. He is expected to play in the preseason finale.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Kyler Murray was fan of WR Michael Wilson before Cardinals drafted him

Kyler Murray “was already fond of” rookie WR Michael Wilson even before the Cardinals drafted him.

It is well known that Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray pays attention to college players coming out in the draft. He has been one to, at least in the past, tell the general manager the players he wanted to acquire.

When 2023 first-round pick Paris Johnson was in the building on his official visit, Murray told him he wanted him to get selected by the Cardinals.

Murray was also already a fan of the Cardinals’ second third-round selection, wide receiver Michael Wilson.

“Before we even drafted him, just watching predraft highlights of guys coming out, receivers in particular, I saw what he did at the Senior Bowl and I could tell,” Murray told reporters on Saturday. “I didn’t know we were going to draft him. This was just me thinking and talking with some of the homies.

“I liked his releases. I liked how he moved. His one-in-ones at the Senior Bowl looked good. I was already fond of him before we even drafted him.”

Wilson has looked good so far in training camp and appears to be preparing for a pretty decent role in the offense this coming season.

If Murray is on board with Wilson’s skills, this could be fun to see in 2023.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Cardinals training camp roster preview: WR Michael Wilson

We take a look at rookie WR Michael Wilson ahead of training camp in our continuing roster preview.

The Arizona Cardinals open training camp at the end of this month, so we will do a roster review, highlighting each player currently on the roster, going over last season, their salary and cap number, questions they face and what their expected roster status will be.

Next up is receiver Michael Wilson.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

Draft reaction: Arizona Cardinals select WR Michael Wilson No. 94 overall

Draft reaction: Arizona Cardinals select Stanford WR Michael Wilson No. 94 overall

The Arizona Cardinals add yet another dangerous weapon to their stock of explosive athletes for Kyler Murray with the selection of Stanford wide receiver Michael Wilson.

A four year starter for the (Stanford) Cardinals, Wilson has shown he can be an explosive deep threat when he can stay on the field, which has been the hard part of his evaluation playing in just fourteen games over that span. During Wilson’s final college season he showed what he could do in limited snaps with 26 catches, 418 yards, and four touchdowns in the six games he played. His whopping 16.1 yard per catch shows his chunk play potential at the next level.

If Wilson can stay healthy in Arizona, he has a chance to see some snaps early in a rotation, though will be limited with multiple speedy veterans in front of him. Given his size, Wilson could compete for a lot of snaps near the goal line. The exit of all-pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins only helps his cause to see the field and help expedite his rookie production.

Jonathan Gannon pleased with rookie WR Michael Wilson’s progress

“He’s light years ahead of when he came in for rookie minicamp, and that’s good to see.”

There is a lot of buzz about Arizona Cardinals rookie receiver Michael Wilson. This perhaps comes from comments that had coach Jonathan Gannon made during the final week of OTAs.

The third-round pick has made a ton of progress.

“Michael has come in as a rookie and really, ‘hey man, this is what has been expected and this is what we are expecting from you. Here’s your role,’ and he has taken to it,” Gannon said.

“He’s doing a really good job, especially for a rookie,” Gannon continued. “I think in any offense, it moves a little fast and, where we are today, he’s light years ahead of when he came in for rookie minicamp, and that’s good to see.”

With the release of DeAndre Hopkins, he should be given opportunities.

Mandatory minicamp is over and now there are six weeks until training camp. Hopefully, he can continue the growth and find playing time and a role for the regular season.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

 

POLL: How many receiving yards will rookie WR Michael Wilson have in 2023?

Wilson has gotten this offseason’s WR hype. What do you think h will do in terms of production in the regular season?

Receiver Michael Wilson, the Arizona Cardinals’ second selection in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft, has been getting a lot of attention this offseason.

He believes he will be the steal of the draft. There has been buzz about him during the offseason program.

He is making strides. He has size. He has favorable athleticism. He is getting reps at multiple positions, including at the ‘X’ receiver spot, where DeAndre Hopkins played.

Will he be a rookie diamond in the rough, or will the hype building around him fizzle as it has for so many young receivers that got hyped for the Cardinals in the offseason?

What do you think?

How many receiving yards will Wilson have as a rookie in 2023?

Vote in the poll and leave comments to tell us what you think.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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WR Michael Wilson believes Cardinals got ‘steal of the draft’

Wilson, hampered by injuries at Stanford, told Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill he promises to be the steal of the draft.

The Arizona Cardinals selected receiver Michael Wilson in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft. While he was selected late in the third round, he believes he can to great things, and the team feels the same way.

His draft call from the Cardinals was shown on the latest episode of “Cardinals Flight Plan.”

When Wilson was on the phone, he had a bold declaration.

“I promise you guys got the steal of the draft,” he said.

Team owner Michael Bidwill responded in kind.

“We think we got the steal of the draft, too,” he said.

Wilson was not super productive in college at Stanford, although that was largely in part because of injuries. He missed 12 straight months with two consecutive foot fractures.

He played in only six games last season before breaking his collarbone.

His best season was in 2019 when he caught 56 passes for 672 yards and five touchdowns.

Wilson isn’t alone in his belief. Jim Nagy of the Senior Bowl believes Wilson is a potential steal.

With DeAndre Hopkins now no longer on the roster following his release, Wilson will have a shot to carve out a role as a rookie.

If he can stay healthy, we will see what he can do.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Rookie WR Michael Wilson is latest Cardinals player paired with pro soccer player

Wilson’s girlfriend is Sophia Smith, drafted first overall in the NWSL in 2020.

Arizona Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz is married to pro soccer player Julie Ertz. Now-retired J.J. Watt, who spent the last two seasons with the Cardinals, is married to Kealia Watt, also a pro soccer player.

Rookie receiver Michael Wilson, drafted in the third round, joins the club.

His girlfriend is Sophia Smith, also a pro soccer player. She was drafted No. 1 overall in the NWSL after her sophomore season at Stanford, where she and Wilson met.

On the latest episode of “Cardinals Flight Plan,” Wilson reveals how competitive they can be. When it comes to the two of them, he only concedes that she would beat him in volleyball and competitive breakdancing.

They are much younger than the Zach and Julie Ertz, while J.J. and Kealia Watt are off now doing the retirement thing, but Wilson is part of the club officially.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

WR Michael Wilson, CB Kei’Trel Clark already have uniform changes

The jersey changes by Wilson and Clark signal the Cardinals have moved on from punter Andy Lee.

The Arizona Cardinals, not long after the NFL draft, announced the uniforms that their nine player selections would wear. Among those numbers, receiver Michael Wilson, drafted in the third round, received No. 13 and cornerback Kei’Trel Clark, drafted in the sixth round, received No. 26.

Both have changed.

With the signing of punter Matt Haack, the Cardinals have apparently moved on from Andy Lee, who was their punter for the last seven seasons. He wore No. 14 for the last two years.

The team roster now shows Wilson having No. 14. He wore No. 4 while playing at Stanford collegiately.

Clark now has the No. 13 that Wilson vacated instead of No. 26. Clark wore No. 13 for Louisville, where he played in college.

If there was any doubt as to whether Lee would return, now we know it is highly unlikely.

The Cardinals have a new punter, Clark gets his old college number and Wilson has a number more like the one he wore in college.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Contract details for Cardinals 3rd-round pick Michael Wilson

HIs four-year rookie contract is worth a total of $5.34 million.

The Arizona Cardinals signed five of their nine draft picks last week before  the start of rookie minicamp. That group included OL Paris Johnson, WR Michael Wilson, QB Clayton Tune, OL Jon Gaines and LB Owen Pappoe.

The details of the contracts are starting to come in.

PHNX’s Howard Balzer details each contract. Let’s look at the numbers for Wilson, the Cardinals’ second selection in the third round.

Wilson, the 94th overall pick in the draft, gets a four-year deal worth $5.34 million.

He receives a signing bonus of more than $883,000.

These are his yearly salaries:

  • 2023: $750,000
  • 2024: $992,703
  • 2025: $1.24 million
  • 2026: $1.48 million

Salary cap implications

Wilson’s contract doesn’t have a complicated cap hit. Each year, it will be the sum of his salary plus the prorated amount of his signing bonus, split up equally over the four years of the contract.

  • 2023: $971,000 ($750,000 salary + nearly 221,000 signing bonus proration)
  • 2024: $1.21 million (nearly $993,000 salary + signing bonus proration)
  • 2025: $1.46 million ($1.24 million salary + signing bonus proration)
  • 2026: $1.70 million ($1.48 million salary + signing bonus proration)

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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