Kendrick Bourne stood by his locker one day in training camp, his eyes gleaming and his smile spread wide.
The receiver was chatting about his role in the Arizona Cardinals’ offense, one that has been widely ignored by fans and analysts alike. Their focus, understandably, has been on the Cardinals’ biggest offensive stars: Trey McBride, Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson and Jeremiyah Love.
Bourne sits firmly under the radar.
“I'm like a secret weapon,” Bourne said.
This, you see, is how he likes it.
“Those guys are gonna be in people's scouting reports,” Bourne said. “I might be too, but it's not as eye-grabbing as those names. So that's where I fit in. I can go against a third DB. … And if I can go against that third corner that's coming in the
game, I should be winning more than not.”
And in Mike LaFleur’s offense, Bourne has not been some forgotten player.
During eight days of 11-on-11 sessions in training camp, he caught 14 of 18 targets — slightly more than one in every 10 passes thrown by Jacoby Brissett. That might not make him a contender to lead the Cardinals in receiving, but it’s a tangible role that could see him end the season with upwards of 60 targets.
“The way Mike has been drawing it up, it's been coming my way,” Bourne said. “And it's not just because of me. It's where the ball's supposed to go.”
That’s despite his offseason move into a new role as the Cardinals’ slot receiver. Last year in San Francisco, just 23.8% of Bourne’s snaps came in the slot. The year before, in New England, that number was 22.4%. The last time more than 40% of his snaps were from the slot was back in 2019, his third season in the league.
His passing game coordinator for the 2019 season? Mike LaFleur.
“If you're gonna be able to play inside, you've gotta be able to match it up in the run game, and he has no problem doing that,” LaFleur said. “He can get in there, he can block nickels, he can insert in the B gap if he needs to, he can do all those kinds of things.”
So this offseason, when the Cardinals were in search of a slot receiver to fit LaFleur’s scheme, they zeroed in on Bourne before handing him a two-year, $10 million contract in free agency.
And it’s not just because of Bourne’s physicality in the run game. Per Fantasy Points Data, Bourne created more separation when lined up in the slot than out wide, enabling him to earn more targets and yards per route run on those plays.
“It's so much more space in the slot,” Bourne said. “It's actually better in my opinion. Cause I can go left and run all the way across. I can go in, go up and go back out. Outside, it's limited. It's a harder position.”
Plus, Bourne is 31 now. The slot receiver is typically on the field in three-wide receiver sets. In his preseason appearance against the Raiders last week, that meant Bourne saw eight of 11 snaps with the starters. At his age, those small breathers are valuable.
“I should be feeling good and coming in with good energy,” Bourne said. “And I think it's a good thing for where I'm at in my career, understanding that role, it's actually dope.”
Bourne was careful to add a caveat here: If the game plan calls for a heavy snap count, or if one of the Cardinals’ top two receivers goes down, he’ll be ready. But on a lower workload, he believes his efficiency will be maximized.
That may not lead to 100 targets or 1,000 yards. Bourne wasn’t brought here for gaudy numbers.
But in an offense predicated on run-pass conflict, in which the play of slot receivers is crucial, Bourne is, quietly, a crucial piece of the Cardinals’ puzzle.
“He's been a great addition thus far,” LaFleur said. “I love the energy he brings; I always have.”
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kendrick Bourne in line for key role in Cardinals offense
