Salary Cap Expert: Cardinals In ‘Strong Place’ Financially, Have Bright Future

The Cardinals begin the 2024 season on Sunday in Buffalo, and projections are middling.

If Kyler Murray is dynamic and Marvin Harrison, Jr. a star from the start, a playoff berth is possible, though a porous defense is expected to be an anchor Arizona can’t detach.

But this has always been a steppingstone season, the type of campaign which elicits hope, just maybe not elite results.

Based on general manager Monti Osesenfort’s maneuvers the past two years, it’s clear that 2025 contention has always been the target, and one salary cap expert believes the train is right on track.

“I expect the Cardinals to compete for a wild-card spot this year and then build from there,” said Daniel Salib, who does projections for the Cap and Trade newsletter. “There is ample cap space, a franchise QB, and a few other building blocks in place for the future. I might try to swing a trade for a franchise player on the defensive side of the ball, and they have to continue building out the trenches, especially the D-line, but the future seems bright in Arizona.”

Arizona currently has $83.5 million in cap space in 2025, which is the third-most in the NFL behind the Patriots and Commanders. The Cardinals are the only team in the league that has $70 million-plus in cap space and a star quarterback on a veteran contract.

Safety Budda Baker, inside linebacker Kyzir White, guard Will Hernandez and running back James Conner are impending free agents, but the Cardinals may realistically only need to fill about a half-dozen starting spots next season with all of that space.

And as Arizona’s star brightens, that of NFC West foes like the 49ers and Rams may start to dim. San Francisco’s core is aging, and quarterback Brock Purdy is scheduled to cash in with a mammoth contract in the offseason. Los Angeles has a good team, but star quarterback Matthew Stafford is 36 years old and on a year-to-year contract.

Ossenfort has not attacked the top tier of free agency in his first two years, but that seems destined to change in 2025.

“They should be able to sign anyone they desire once they hit the market,” Salib said. “I also would not rule out using some of that cap space to trade for and extend a star veteran if the opportunity presents itself.”

The ‘Great’ Kyler Contract

Ossenfort has been able to clear out all the bad contracts left behind by the previous regime, and has Murray on a long-term deal – $46.1 million average per year through 2028 – that is looking better and better by the day.

“Kyler Murray’s contract looks great right now,” Salib said. “Cardinals fans should also be happy that they got Kyler Murray on a five-new-year deal. As we saw with (Jordan) Love, Tua (Tagovailoa), and (Jared) Goff this year, the QB market is heading back into the more-player-friendly four-year range.”

Salib said Dak Prescott should surpass $60 million per year on his next contract, followed by lucrative extensions for guys like C.J. Stroud and Patrick Mahomes.

“It is not unrealistic to think that the QB market will eclipse $70 (million per year) while Kyler is under contract through 2028,” Salib said. “I don’t think Kyler could come back to the negotiating table until after the 2026 season, when he has two existing years left.”

NFL agent Paul DeRousselle, who reps Titans star Jeffery Simmons, recently objected via Twitter when an anonymous scout said to ESPN that the Cardinals were “stuck” because of Murray’s contract.

“Bruh was just talking,” DeRouselle said. “That Kyler contract is a super discount in today’s rapidly-escalating QB market. That anonymous agent got us out here looking crazy.”

McBride Extension Projection

Ossenfort has not yet signed a player to a lucrative extension coming off a rookie deal – an indictment of Steve Keim’s drafts – but tight end Trey McBride is a burgeoning star, and he will be eligible for a big payday in 2025.

Salib believes McBride could get a multi-year deal in the range of $17 million per year if he continues to ascend.

“He should be in for a hefty one,” Salib said. “If the Cardinals desire to extend McBride, the name of the game should be proactive. If you take a look at who will have one year left on their deal at tight end next year, it includes names such as George Kittle, Evan Engram, David Njoku, and Mark Andrews, to name a few. The Cardinals should want to get ahead of any of those deals before they cause McBride’s price to rise.”

Once Ossenfort doles out a few extensions, the Cardinals’ cap space will take a hit, but the team should still be in exceedingly good shape for 2025.

A Promising Future

The Cardinals have gone through some extremely lean times since the exhilarating start to 2021, including back-to-back four-win seasons, and this year may only be marginally better.

But if Arizona can hover around .500 or make a push for the playoffs, expectations will deservedly go through the roof.

The Cardinals have a star quarterback, myriad promising players on rookie deals and a stable structure at the top with coach Jonathan Gannon and Ossenfort.

And once this season ends, it will be time to open up the coffers.

“The Cardinals’ cap space,” Salib said “is in a strong place.”