The Arizona Cardinals announced last week they agreed to terms with tackle Marcus Gilbert on a one-year deal to return to the team in 2020. Initially, what was reported was that the contract is worth up to $3.75 million.
While it can be worth that much, it appears to be loaded with incentives.
The numbers are in at Over the Cap and he has almost a minimum deal.
He will make $1.05 million in salary and $150,000 of it is guaranteed.
It does not list per-game roster bonuses. If the deal is worth up to $3.75 million, it is because it is loaded with bonuses.
He will have to battle Justin Murray for the starting job and, at that salary, there isn’t even a guarantee he makes the team.
What it also means is that the Cardinals still could logically draft a tackle with the eighth overall pick.
Gilbert, when healthy, is one of the more talented right tackles in the NFL. However, he is coming off a torn ACL he suffered before the first game of last season and has only played in 12 games over the last three seasons.
They brought him back because of what he can be but they did not commit a lot of money, so everything is still on the table when it comes to their first-round pick in the draft.
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