While the Cardinals offseason approach to roster building has been questioned from many quarters, there was more to it than simply efforting to re-sign players whose contracts had expired. In that group were tight end Zach Ertz, running back James
Conner, edge rusher Dennis Gardeck, wide receiver A.J. Green, backup quarterback Colt McCoy and punter Andy Lee.
Some of those players didn’t receive large contracts, but they all add up in this salary-cap age.
Most important on general manager Steve Keim’s desk were the looming issues with players that had expiring contracts in the near future, a group that was headlined by quarterback Kyler Murray.
As the season opens, Murray, left tackle D.J. Humphries and safety Jalen Thomson have signed contract extensions. Cornerback Byron Murphy Jr., defensive end Zach Allen and edge rusher Markus Golden are set to enter the final season of their deals.
Wide receiver Marquise Brown is arguably underpaid in 2022 at $2.1 million, especially compared to the deals signed this offseason by other receivers in this draft class, and he has a fifth-year option in place at $13.4 million for 2023. Surely, Keim knows that will have to be dealt with in the somewhat near future.
Managing the salary cap isn’t only about the current season, but it’s always imperative to project to future years. Keim, like most general managers, is usually creative with various structures that often include voidable years that lower the yearly cap hits for signing bonuses. Of course, that money always comes due at some point.
The recently concluded deal for Jalen Thompson is a good example. As is normally the case, the total value is not the $40 million reported originally. But it’s close.
The three-year extension totals a shade over $38.5 million with $24.5 million fully guaranteed at signing. That includes $2.54 million that he was scheduled to receive in 2022, the final season of his original four-year contract.
Included in the guarantees is a $10 million signing bonus along with a $7.935 million option bonus in 2023 that has to be exercised by the 10th day of the league year. If the Cardinals decide not to do that, which is unlikely, his $1.1 million base salary would increase to $9.035 million. With one voidable year in 2026, the signing bonus is prorated over five years ($2 million a year) and the option bonus over four ($1,983,750 per
year).
Also guaranteed are base salaries of $965,000 this year, the $1.1 million in 2023 and $4.5 million of his $8.3 million 2024 salary.
The contract includes a total of $170,000 per-game roster bonuses each year ($10,000 per game) and in one quirk, that total for this year is treated as a signing bonus and also prorated over five years at $34,000 per because the contract was signed after the final preseason game.
The Cardinals have also made it a habit to defer some of the signing bonus money. They did that with $6.1 million of Murray’s signing bonus and for Humphries’ signing bonus and guaranteed $8 million roster bonus in 2023. He receives $4.5 million of the signing bonus on Sept. 16, $4.5 million on Nov. 11 and $3.5 million on March 15, 2023. The roster bonus has equal $4 million payments on May 5, 2023, and March 15, 2024.
Of Thompson’s signing bonus, he will receive $2 million on Sept. 30, $3.5 million on Nov. 11 and the remaining $4.5 million on March 15, 2023. The option bonus in 2023 will also be paid out throughout that year.
As it pertains to the salary cap, which is rarely reported in contract stories, the charge for Thompson will be roughly $3.1 million this year, $5.3 million in 2023, $12.5 million in 2024, $13.7 million in 2025 and $4 million in the voidable year when there will likely be a new contract with Thompson turning 28. Finally, there is a $300,000 Pro Bowl incentive in each year of the deal, which could be problematic for Thompson. Even if he plays at that level, as one league source told gophnx.com, “Good luck making it with Budda Baker on the team.”
