The Arizona Cardinals report to training camp on July 22 and begin the process of preparing for the regular season, forming the roster and determining starting jobs and roles on the team.
Leading up to the start of camp, we will take a look at every player on the offseason roster, their background, their contract, their play in 2024, questions they face and their roster outlook.
This focuses on tight end Elijah Higgins.
Elijah Higgins background, 2024 season
Higgins enters his third season in the NFL and with the Cardinals. He was drafted in the sixth round in 2023 out of Stanford, where he played wide receiver, by the Miami Dolphins but was cut after the preseason and the Cardinals claimed him off waivers.
That first season, he was inactive as a healthy scratch for the first six games, as he was the fourth tight end on the roster. After Zach Ertz injured his thigh and later traded to Washington, Higgins began to see playing time, appearing in 11 games, starting two, hauling in 14 receptions for 163 yards and a touchdown.
Last season, he was the Cardinals’ No. 2 tight end. He played in all 17 games, starting six. He caught 20 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns.
He also logged 176 snaps on special teams.
Elijah Higgins 2025 contract details, cap hit
Higgins enters the third year of his four-year rookie contract. His deal was originally worth more than $3.8 million. He will earn $1.03 million in salary in 2025 and that will be his cap hit as well.
Questions he faces, roster outlook
Higgins figures to continue to be part of the Cardinals’ plans on offense. He does a lot of different things and can be a real receiving threat, even though he only had 20 catches last season. Can he do more?
He appears to be a lock to make the roster once again as the No. 2/3 tight end with Tip Reiman.
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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals training camp roster preview: TE Elijah Higgins