The Arizona Cardinals are in their offseason and looking ahead to 2025.
But while we are in the offseason, it is time to look back at the 2024 season and give some recognitions for player performances.
On the podcast, we discussed player awards and superlatives. Now we will put our picks in written form.
We continue with the team’s top rookie in 2024.
Who was the Cardinals’ rookie of the year for 2024? Howard Balzer and I give our picks.
Cardinals’ 2024 rookie of the year
Jess Root: WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
I don’t think there is a question he was their best rookie. While his first year wasn’t what many believed it could be — 90+ catches for 1,100+ yards — he still had one of the best rookie seasons a Cardinals player has had. He matched Anquan Boldin’s and Larry Fitzgerald’s touchdown production, a rookie record. He had the second-most receiving yards (885) for a rookie in franchise history.
There were plays left on the field, for sure. He did look like a rookie a lot. But he was still their best rookie. He had the best individual game of any rookie and piled up numbers, albeit not up to incredibly lofty expectations.
Those expectations do not minimize the fact he had a very solid season.
Howard Balzer: CB Max Melton and S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson
Call this a copout if you will, but a strong case can be made for both players.
Taylor-Demerson, the man everyone calls Rabbit, and Melton had similar numbers, although DTD did his in fewer snaps with Jalen Thompson ahead of him on the depth chart.
Melton plays the more challenging position, so let’s just call it a draw.
Each played all 17 games with Melton getting three starts and DTD two. The snap disparity was 565 (52 percent) on defense for Melton and 258 (24 percent) for DTD. The latter also played 286 special-teams snaps (65 percent) to Melton’s 212 (49 percent).
The numbers breakdown
Melton: 45 tackles (31 solo with two for loss), five passes defensed and one forced fumble.
Taylor-Demerson: 35 tackles (22 solo with three for loss) and also five passes defensed and one forced fumble.
Both should progress even more in 2025.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
