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2013 Arizona Cardinals training camp: Previewing the wide receivers

It's time for Fitz and company

USA TODAY Sports

We are quickly approaching the beginning of training camp, and we have three position groups left to preview. Next up are the wide receivers.

Here is the roster heading into camp...a lot of receivers.

Jaron Brown, 2013 undrafted rookie

Dan Buckner, 2013 undrafted rookie

LaRon Byrd, 2012 undrafted rookie

Jarrett Dillard, 2013 free agent signee, signed through 2013

Larry Fitzgerald, 2004 first round draft pick, signed through 2018

Michael Floyd, 2012 first round draft pick

Robert Gill, 2013 undrafted rookie

Charles Hawkins, 2013 undrafted rookie

Michael Rios, 2013 undrafted rookie

Andre Roberts, 2010 third round draft pick

Tyler Shaw, 2013 undrafted rookie

Ryan Swope, 2013 sixth round pick

Kerry Taylor, 2012 free agent

Fitz, Floyd, Roberts -- big expectations

After what he called the most frustrating season of his career, Larry Fitzgerald is ready to come back with a vengeance. He is playing multiple receiver positions, and the consensus is that, with the addition of Carson Palmer and the offensive genius of Bruce Arians, he can have a bounce back season like Reggie Wayne did in 2012.

Floyd, the second year player, like Rob Housler among the tight ends, is popping up on everyone's breakout player list.

Roberts, though statistically almost equal to Fitz in 2012, did not have a good season, at least after a fast start. He dropped a lot of passes, but he also was victim, like the rest of the team, of Cardinals quarterbacks. Many believe he is the perfect fit in the slot. Kevin Kolb said a season ago that Roberts was a special player in the slot.

These top three receivers will be expected to shoulder the biggest load. Schematically, we probably won't see much of the other guys, as in four-wide sets, Housler will probably get a lot of looks.

A lot of inexperience

After Fitz, Floyd and Roberts, the inexperience is palpable. Dillard has played in 21 NFL games, but after him, only Byrd has gotten any game snaps, and Byrd only got 11 in 2012.

There is some buzz about some of the undrafted players. Brown and Taylor both saw time on the main field during OTAs and mini-camp. Robert Gill, the 29-year old rookie speedster (who hasn't seen the treadmill video?) also has caught the eye of the coaches. With these young players, there is a lot of size and a lot of speed, but not much experience. Coach Arians has expressed a lack of concern because of their inexperience.

Missing Swope -- will we ever see him?

Swope was drafted in the sixth round in April, despite concerns of concussions he had suffered in college. After he himself downplayed the worries, he did not participate in OTAs, mini-camp with lingering concussion symptoms. and he was apparently not at the NFL Rookie Symposium (at least he was not in the team picture of the rookies and staff for the team that was there).

Initially, Arians expressed no concern, but then, after mini-camp, Arians then became concerned, expressing his surprise that it is still an issue.

The big question now is...will we see him in training camp?

Making the roster

It would be expected that the team will carry six receivers. With a greater use of the tight end, I would honestly not be surprised if they keep as little as five. But six is the best bet. That means Fitz, Floyd, Roberts and then some young players. This battle for the roster will be one of the more important things to watch.

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