2019 Offseason Finances: Arizona Cardinals

Michael Ginnitti
Michael Ginnitti, Managing Editor & NFL/MLB ExpertMay 29, 2019
© USA TODAY Sports

The 3-13 Cardinals turned the worst record in football, into a 1st round selection of a QB for the second straight year. Out goes Josh Rosen to Miami, in comes Kyler Murray to run a new, likely faster, Cardinals' offense.

 

Notable Additions & Subtractions

The trade that sent QB Josh Rosen to the Dolphins represented a loss of $4.15M in cap space for Arizona, but was a necessary evil to give Murray the reigns. Not coincidentally, FS Antoine Bethea's release cleared $4.75M of space, more than enough to account for the Rosen move. Arizona also sent a late round draft pick to Pittsburgh to acquire OT Marcus Gilbert, who projects to become the starting RT for 2019. QB Kyler Murray comes to town on a 4 year, $35.1M, fully guaranteed, contract that includes a $23.5M signing bonus, and a cap figure of $6.3M in 2019. While the only notable contract extension went to WR Larry Fitzgerald , who rejoins Arizona for his 16th season on an $11M salary.

» View 2019 Free Agent Signings

 

Offseason Spending

The Cardinals signed 16 free agents, combining for $220M of total contracts, $109M of which is guaranteed. They added or signed back 7 projected starters for 2019, while acquiring another (Marcus Gilbert, OT) via trade from Pittsburgh. It's a rebuild on the fly for Arizona, from the Head Coach, to the QB, & on down.

» View NFL Offseason Spending

 

Top 2019 Cap Hits

  Pos.Age.2019 Cap Hit
Chandler Jones DE 29 $19,500,000
Patrick Peterson CB 28 $11,884,588
Larry Fitzgerald WR 36 $11,250,000

 

Top 2019 Cash Earners

  Pos.Age.2019 CashThoughts
Kyler Murray QB 21 $24,084,924 Murray's $23.5M signing bonus is likely split across the next calendar year, but he finds himself well ahead of the $4.6M bonus to play MLB
Chandler Jones DE 29 $16,500,000 Jones enters year three of his $82.5M megadeal, the final season of guaranteed money. He'll have $31.5M of non-guaranteed salary to be made thru 2021.
Jordan Hicks ILB 27 $15,275,000 Hicks joins Arizona on a 4 year, $34M contract that includes $20M guaranteed through 2020.

 

Top Active Career Earners

  Pos.Age.Career EarningsThoughts
Larry Fitzgerald WR 36 $163,296,387 Sticky Fingers has now earned $50M more than any other WR in the history of the game.
Terrell Suggs OLB 36 $105,210,000 Suggs reeled in $105M during his time with the Ravens, and will see another $7M more from Arizona in 2019.
Patrick Peterson CB 28 $74,772,926 Peterson's $74M earned ranks 6th all-time among cornerbacks. His current contract contracts another $19M left to be made.

 

Notable 2020 Free Agents

  Pos.Age.Thoughts
Marcus Gilbert RT 32 The longtime Steelers lineman should improve the right side of the line for Kyler Murray in 2019.
D.J. Swearinger FS 29 He's rebirthed his career since leaving Washington and should benefit from a massively fruitful free agency period for a half dozen or so safeties.
D.J. Humphries LT 25 An inconsistent first 4 seasons has his future very much in question, but with his $9.6M option now fully guaranteed, he'll get a chance to prove he's worth another contract in 2019.

 

Top Fantasy Players

  Pos.PPR Pos. Rank.Non-PPR Pos. RankContract Expires
Kyler Murray QB 14 12 2024
David Johnson  RB 5 8 2022
Larry Fitzgerald  WR 37 48 2020
Christian Kirk WR 51 34 2022
Charles Clay TE 32 32 2020
Team Defense DEF 26 26 N/A

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