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Bruce Arians: Finding 'plug-and-play' WR isn't priority for Cardinals

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Bruce Arians is content with his wide receivers, for now at least.

If a top-tier wide receiver is available when it’s the Cardinals' turn to pick at No. 13 in this month’s NFL draft, there's no guarantee he’ll be heading to Arizona.

“A top-round pick isn’t necessary,” Arians said. “Again, if the right guy falls and you say, ‘OK, where does he fit this year?’ And everyone says he’s a bust because he’s fighting his ass off to get on the field.’

“We don’t need a plug-and-play player right now at that position.”

The Cardinals currently have 11 wide receivers on their expanded roster, of which they could plausibly find six to stock their receivers room: Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown, J.J. Nelson, Jaron Brown, Jeremy Ross and Aaron Dobson. The likes of Marquis Bundy, should he remain on the team following an arrest on suspicion of disorderly conduct and failure to obey police commands on April 1, and Brittan Golden are also possibilities to earn roster spots.

“I’m fine where we are at,” Arians said. “Getting Jaron healthy and now Aaron Dobson; John Brown is working out twice a day now and not having symptoms, so knock on wood we get the John Brown back that we know. Aaron is another tall, big guy who has had success. We all love Jaron.”

John Brown spent the second half of last season dealing with the effects of carrying the sickle-cell trait.

The combination of the 6-foot-2 Jaron Brown and 6-foot-3 Dobson could help fill the role vacated by Michael Floyd late last season. Arians showered praise on Dobson, saying he liked the receiver when he came out of Marshall University in 2013. Arians said the lack of height -- the tallest receiver on Arizona's roster is the 6-foot-4 Bundy, who didn’t play a regular-season snap last season -- isn’t a concern.

Losing Floyd won’t be as critical of a hit as perceived for the Cardinals’ offense. He had the fifth-most receiving yards on the team last season with 446 and sixth-most catches with 33, but “he dropped way too many balls,” Arians said.

Jaron Brown is continuing to rehab from ACL surgery after suffering the knee injury in late October last season, stunting what likely would’ve been the best season of his career. He had 11 catches for 187 yards and a touchdown in 11 games before his season was cut short.

Even though Brown’s recovery is ahead of schedule, Arians said, the Cardinals don’t plan on him practicing during OTAs. Arians also said Brown may return for minicamp, but he left open the option to shut Brown down until training camp.

“But if he’s OK for half of OTAs and minicamp and doc says he’s ready to go, we will let him go,” Arians said.