Some Arizona Cardinals fans may not have been thrilled when their team used a second-round pick on a Colorado State tight end in 2022, even though Zach Ertz was already on the roster.

They’re probably singing a different tune now.

“It’s funny, I get drafted, no one knows who I am and all the Cardinals fans hate me because, ‘Why did we draft a tight end in the second round?’ And then three years later, everyone loves me and I’m the best,” Cardinals tight end Trey McBride said in a Thursday ESPN article. Josh Weinfuss. “It’s funny how it all works.”

McBride was a secondary contributor at best for most of his rookie season, although he received more playing time after Ertz suffered a torn ACL and MCL in Week 10.

He then saw another opportunity when Ertz suffered a quadriceps injury during Week 7 of the 2023 campaign and quickly took advantage of it. McBride established himself as one of the league’s best tight ends last year and finished with 81 receptions for 825 yards and three touchdowns.

Arizona ended up releasing Ertz, who is now with the Washington Commanders, in November of last year, further solidifying McBride’s role as the undisputed starter going forward.

The Colorado State product has made the most of that confidence and is on pace for career highs in receptions and receiving yards this season. In seven games, he has 42 receptions for 446 yards, although he has yet to reach the end zone.

“He’s a beast,” quarterback Kyler Murray said. “I can’t say enough about Trey.

“I tell everyone every week that I think he could be the best in the league. The athleticism, the ability to block, he can do it all. He can do it all. He’s one of our best guys. We have to keep getting him the rock.”

McBride leads the team in receiving yards and has capitalized on the extra space that comes when opposing secondaries double-team rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

His presence is a big reason Arizona is tied for first in the NFC West at 4-4 and has a lot of momentum heading into Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears after two straight wins.

If he can help lead the Cardinals to the playoffs for the first time since the 2021 campaign, those draft day doubts will be even more of a thing of the past.