From The Nest (#2) – From Long Shot to Liftoff

When you look at the Arizona Cardinals, they offer a few weapons as threats on the offensive end — with up-and-coming stars Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride, alongside a two-headed dragon in the backfield featuring Trey Benson and James Conner. However, one question still remained within the organization between owner Brad Pitt, the front office, and head coach Jonathan Gannon: Who could be called upon as that reliable second option in the wide receiver room?

The roster already included names such as Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch, Zay Jones, and Xavier Weaver — a mixed group of veterans and young, unproven talents behind Marvin Harrison Jr. So what did owner and general manager Brad Pitt decide to do? Sign the definition of an unproven talent.

Enter Kaden Prather.
A rookie wide receiver out of Maryland, originally drafted by the Buffalo Bills as the twenty-fourth pick in the seventh round. As the season rolled around, Kaden Prather was placed on the Bills’ practice squad, where he remained for the first half of the season — until the call was made from Pitt. The rookie was signed from the practice squad to the Arizona Cardinals and immediately inserted into the depth chart ahead of their Week 9 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.

Fans were already questioning the move — the Cardinals chose to sign a young talent who had nearly gone undrafted instead of trading for a proven star. What puzzled them even more was when Prather was listed as WR2 on the depth chart ahead of more familiar names. But Coach Gannon and Brad Pitt shared a vision for Kaden Prather and didn’t hesitate to take a gamble on him.

After joining midway through the season as a relative unknown, the 6’4” wide receiver was quick to make a name for himself. In just 10 games, he recorded 30 receptions for 548 yards and 7 touchdowns, with only 4 drops. It’s safe to say he solidified himself with the team — especially after signing a two-year extension in the offseason that will keep him in Arizona through 2028.

Kaden Prather brings energy to the team and, more importantly, an additional threat for quarterback Kyler Murray. While he may not be the fastest receiver in the league, his route-running ability, reliable hands, and towering frame make him a dependable option for any quarterback.

When asked about Prather’s role and growth as a player, general manager and owner Brad Pitt had this to say about the rising wideout:

“He was a guy we had our eye on since the draft. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to bring him over then, but he remained someone we monitored throughout the season. After a few meetings, we made the decision to sign him off the Bills’ practice squad — and the rest is history. As a rookie drafted toward the end of the draft who barely played a snap, he did an excellent job handling the outside noise and pressure from his debut onward. Every single game he played, he contributed. We’re lucky to have him. The team loves him, we love him, and we’re looking forward to seeing him grow into something special.”

After the shocking and initially questionable midseason move, Kaden Prather quickly silenced the doubters and proved that not only did he belong on the team as a starting wideout — he had the potential to become one of the league’s future greats. Around the league, it’s already anticipated that once Prather’s two-year deal ends, the Cardinals will extend him with a long-term contract.

– From The Nest

* Chat GPT was only used for grammatical correction as English isn’t my first language.