Trey Benson is seeking a bigger role in Year 2.
The 2024 third-round running back didn't make a huge splash as a rookie, logging just 63 rushing attempts for 291 yards and a touchdown behind workhorse James Conner, but he believes a higher share of carries could be in order moving forward.
"I feel like I'll get more opportunities and help James out more," Benson said during mandatory minicamp, per Arizona Republic's Bob McManaman. "I feel like we can have two RB1s on this team, and that's my mindset this year is two RB1s."
Now 30 years old, it remains to be seen how many carries Conner would actually end up ceding. He's dealt with injuries throughout his career and has yet to be available for a full slate of games, but Conner has arguably never played better than his past two campaigns. He averaged a career-high 5.0 yards per carry in 2023 with a career-high 1,040 rushing yards to match. He then bested that mark with 1,094 yards on 236 carries in 2024.
His 47 catches and 414 receiving yards were his most since 2018, his second season in the league.
Along with quarterback Kyler Murray's scrambling abilities, Conner forged the way for the Cards' seventh-ranked rushing offense.
Nonetheless, Arizona could become more dynamic and also ensure Conner stays fresh by mixing in Benson with greater frequency.
Benson, who turns 22 in July, has added some weight to prepare for taking on extra responsibility. He also feels the game has started to slow down for him, which should lead to less panicking and more hitting the hole with authority.
"It was my rookie year and the defenses, the whole NFL, is just way quicker than college," Benson said. "I think that's what it was, and my mind was just racing. I only played two years of college, so that was basically my third year of playing for real.
"I just needed to be more decisive. I was thinking too much at the beginning of the season trying to hit the home run every time. It helped with James being in my ear telling me, 'Just take what I can get,' take what they give me and just be a better runner."
But even as he aims to get more involved, taking a few carries off Conner's plate, Benson has been nothing but complementary of his mentor and teammate.
"He's one of the best runners I've ever seen, and I feel like the people in the media don't give him credit," Benson said regarding Conner. "He's one of the top running backs in the league -- he's top five to me -- and I'm always telling him that. He proves it each and every day."
Conner, in turn, believes the young back nipping at his heels is destined to make an impact.
"He's worked unbelievably this offseason," Conner said of Benson. "Showed up every single day, working out together and yeah, he wants it. He wants it bad. That's because he knows the type of player he can be. We all know that."
The Cardinals finished 12th in scoring and 11th in yards last season, on the cusp of a top-10 offense just as they were on the cusp of eking out an NFC West title -- still in the thick of it in late November before fading down the stretch to finish 8-9.
Having two backs capable of operating at RB1 quality, plus Murray's elusiveness, would make the Cardinals incredibly difficult to plan for in a few months' time and boost their chances of ending a three-year playoff drought.
Benson still needs to prove he's worthy of the extra workload, but for now, he has the right mindset.
