“I think I’m a very unique guy,” McBride said. “I’m a guy who can do it all.”
“They haven’t talked to me yet about my role, but I do know exactly what I’m getting myself into,” he added. “I’m more excited as heck to get in there and learn.”
McBride, 6-foot-4 and 246 pounds, was considered the top tight end in the class by most pundits, after a year at Colorado State in which he had 90 receptions for 1,191 yards.
The Cardinals believe he can do whatever they need, whether it is flexing out wide, as an in-line blocker, or even work out of the backfield as an H-back. Keim and Kingsbury also raved about the character of the three-time captain.
“People ask what do you like about him,” Keim said. “What’s there not to like about him?”
While McBride’s arrival can be about the future, it also could be about the present, with Williams still coming back from an ACL injury. His status once the season starts remains unclear.
“He’s been rehabbing,” Kingsbury said. “It’ll be a process and we knew that after his initial surgery. But he’s doing everything he can. I don’t have a timetable.”
If Williams is healthy, the Cardinals will have an abundance of tight ends. But Kingsbury wouldn’t bite when asked if that meant a chance at a lot more 13 (one-back, three-tight-end sets) personnel.
“I’ll stick to 12,” Kingsbury said. “12 and 11.”
