As the Arizona Cardinals get ready for the start of their 2024 season, they are keeping a close eye on tight end Travis Vokelek, who is currently wearing No. 81 for the team. With just 81 days until their opening game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on September 8, Vokelek is determined to earn a spot on the final roster.
The last player to wear No. 81 for the Cardinals was Jim Dray, who played for the team from 2010-2013 and made a brief return in 2017. Dray was initially a seventh-round pick out of Stanford and transitioned from a special teams player to a starting tight end in 2013. He earned the trust of head coach Bruce Arians and contributed 26 receptions for 215 yards and two touchdowns that season.
Despite leaving the team, Dray showed his reliability by returning in 2017 to help the Cardinals during a difficult period of injuries. His tenure with the team extended beyond his playing career as he served as offensive quality control coach under head coach Kliff Kingsbury from 2020-2021.
As the Cardinals continue their offseason preparations, fans can tune into Cards Wire’s Jess Root on the Rise Up, See Red podcast available on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple podcasts to get all of their latest news and analysis.
