Cardinals RB Michael Carter hits salary escalator for 2024

Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter gets a big raise in 2024 and not because he got a new deal. He gets a raise of more than $2 million because he has earned the league’s proven performance salary escalator.

Drafted in the fourth round in 2021, he would have made the league minimum in 2024, getting $1.055 million in salary. His new salary will be $3.37 million.

Why?

He played a lot in his first three seasons.

Over three seasons, he averaged playing more than 63% of his team’s offensive snaps, earning the level two escalator.

As a former fourth-round pick, to qualify for level one escalator, he would have needed to play at least 35% of his team’s offensive snaps in two of three seasons or average that over three years. The level two escalator comes into play for playing at least 55% in two of three seasons or averaging that over three.

The level one escalator gives the player the salary equal to an original round restricted free agent tender, which is more than $3.1 million. Level two adds $250,000 to that, which is the amount that Carter will make if he makes the roster for the Cardinals.

Carter’s salary escalator might actually complicate his quest to make the team. Assuming the Cardinals keep four running backs, the decision will likely come between Carter and Emari Demercado, as James Conner, DeeJay Dallas and rookie Trey Benson are all basic locks for the roster.

He will need to either establish a set role as the primary backup to Conner or the third-down back to make the team.

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