If the Arizona Cardinals can’t agree on a new deal with Larry Fitzgerald they may have to let the receiver hit the open market. Fitzgerald, who is locked up until 2019, stands to make only $8 million in base salary next season but the $8 million in bonus money he will make right before free agency, on March 14, is the problem. His contract puts his team in a precarious situation with their cap space. When Fitzgerald gets the bonus money his cap number shoots up and when you add on other seasonal bonuses, you end up with the ridiculous cap number of $23.6 million in 2015.
The Cardinals will have around $11 million in cap space, but if they release Fitzgerald they could free up $9.2 million. This would be imprudent however, considering the team would be giving up their best offensive player. The free agent wide receiver pool is shaping up to be a deep one this year but the team probably won’t be able to land one of the big name targets. Worst case scenario the team will trade Fitzgerald and receive $16 million in cap space. Although, any team that goes after Fitzgerald may not pony up the amount the Cardinals ask for, waiting to see in they can grab the receiver in free agency. The incoming rookie class at wide receiver could be an impressive one so they could take the chance finding Fitzgerald’s replacement there.
The Cardinals should hope to keep Fitzgerald, who is 31, and Fitzgerald seems to want to retire a Cardinal which is evident by the fact that he restructured his deal last season. This time around a pay cut may be necessary in order for the Cardinals to get the cap space they want. Who knows how much the star receiver will be willing to give up.
