DENVER – Earlier in training camp, Jonathan Gannon was recalling a conversation he had with defensive coordinator Nick Rallis about dealing with Pro Bowl tight end Trey McBride during practice.
"Nick, you better put two (defenders) on him or he's going to wreck every practice," Gannon would say.
Rallis would respond that he couldn't devote two cover guys on a tight end every play. Gannon would concede the point and then think, "We're getting killed."
That's what happens with an elite player like McBride. And why something similar happened on Thursday, when the Cardinals had their joint practice with the Broncos prior to Saturday's preseason game and McBride indeed wrecked the Denver defense much of the morning.
"Me and Kyler had a great connection today," McBride said. "I was happy with the way the offense played, and like I said, it's never as good as you think, it's never as bad as you think."
However the Cardinals end up sorting through their offensive performance, McBride could be proud of his homecoming. The Fort Morgan native and long-time Broncos fan has been back already, having played in Denver as a rookie in 2022 and again in the 2024 preseason.
But those visits were before McBride had his 111-catch season, before he earned a $76 million contract extension, before he elevated himself into one of the best tight ends in the league.
McBride called the practice at the Broncos facility "surreal," and shook his head when he was asked if he thought he was the best tight end in the NFL.
"I think I'm a great tight end and for what we do in this offense, I think I do a good job," McBride said. "But there are a lot of great tight ends in the league and just to be considered one of the top ones is a huge honor."