As free agency approaches, the Arizona Cardinals have a little less than $40 million available to use under the salary cap. While that is s decent amount to work with, it is in the lower half of the league in cap space.
So what can the Cardinals do to increase their cap space?
Trade RB David Johnson
This will free up a bunch of cap space. He counts more than $14 million against the cap this season. They can’t cut him because his salary is fully guaranteed. He could count more against the cap off the roster than on the roster and they would have to pay him his entire $10.2 million salary anyway.
However, trading him will free up roughly $10 million in cap space. The problem is finding a trade partner.
Trade LB Haason Reddick
Reddick has been a disappointment since being drafted and enters his fourth season. He couldn’t play inside linebacker and was moved outside, but he didn’t really show he is the answer opposite Chandler Jones.
He counts nearly $4.3 million against the salary cap in 2020 and cutting him does nothing. They save no money. Trading him would save $2.3 million against the cap.
Much like when the Cardinals traded for Chandler Jones, giving the New England Patriots a second-round pick and Jonathan Cooper, Reddick could be a throw-in to another deal. Another possibility would be to use him to package with another draft pick to move up in this year’s draft.
Trade CB Patrick Peterson
The Cardinals have said multiple times this will not happen, but trading Peterson would give them another $12.5 million in cap space. Trading him would mean acquiring another cornerback, which would cost a lot, but the cap space would be there.
Extend Patrick Peterson’s contract
The Cardinals have opened up talks with Peterson. GM Steve Keim and team president and chairman Michael Bidwill would like for him to play his entire career for the Cardinals. He currently will count more than $13.1 million against the cap. In a contract extension, they could cut that cap number significantly, depending on how they structured it.
Extend or restructure OLB Chandler Jones’ contract
Jones’ current deal goes through 2021. He counts $21.3 million against the cap this year. He makes $16 million in salary. A simple restructure would free up money this year. For example, by converting $6 million of his salary into a bonus now, they would save $3 million in cap space for 2020 but add $3 million to 2021, when he currently will have a $20.8 million cap number.
If they extend his contract, it could be reduced even further, depending on what the terms of the extension are and how much is prorated bonus money.
Restructure G Justin Pugh’s contract
Pugh’s cap number for 2020 is $10.5 million. He is due to make $7.25 million in salary. If the Cardinals pay him $6 million now in a bonus and reduce his salary to $1.25 million, they would save $2 million in cap space this year but add $2 million to 2021 and 2022, when his cap numbers are currently $11.25 million and $12.03 million.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
Ep. 260
Ep. 259
