The Jacksonville Jaguars reportedly pulled off a trade right before Sunday’s 6 p.m. ET roster cut deadline, sending tight end Hunter Long to the Arizona Cardinals. This wasn’t just a simple roster clear-out, it was a move that tells you the Cardinals saw something they wanted for their tight end room.
McBride Is a Problem for Defenses, Long Is the Answer
Long, a 28-year-old who came into the league as a third-round pick back in 2021, is clearly meant to provide some much-needed depth. Why depth? Because the guy ahead of him, Trey McBride, is an absolute beast. We’re talking back-to-back NFL Pro Bowls here, people! McBride is one of the best tight ends in the league, full stop. You know opposing defenses are going to key in on him every single snap. That’s where Long could shine. In two-tight-end sets, with all the focus on McBride, Long could actually become more productive. It’s a smart play if it works out.
From Bouncing Around To a New Opportunity
Long has been on a bit of a journey in his first five seasons. He’s bounced around from the Miami Dolphins to the Los Angeles Rams and then to the Jaguars. His first four years? Just eight total catches. That’s a tough stat line to look at! But credit where it’s due, his 2025 season in Jacksonville was his best yet: 12 catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns. Still, even with that slight uptick, a significant role wasn’t really waiting for him in Jacksonville for 2026. Brenton Strange is already the starter, and the Jaguars drafted two new tight ends this year, Nate Boerkircher and Tanner Koziol. They want to see what those rookies can do. So, moving on from Long made sense for Jacksonville, but getting a trade partner like the Cardinals means they actually got *something* back instead of letting him go for nothing. That’s a win for them, and a fresh start for Long.
So, what’s next? The Cardinals now have a 28-year-old tight end who just got a fresh start. Everyone will be watching to see if Hunter Long can truly seize this chance, play off McBride’s star power, and finally carve out a consistent, productive role for himself in Arizona. It’s an interesting gamble, and we’re ready to see how it plays out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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