Cardinals GM Expects Carson Palmer & Larry Fitzgerald To Return Next Year

Cardinals GM Steve Keim mentioned during an interview with Arizona Sports 98.7 that “based on conversations I had with them in training camp, I’d be surprised if [Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald] didn’t play next year,” via AzCardinals.com.

There was actually a report early on in the season that Fitzgerald had told people close to him that this was going to be a final season in the NFL. However, he later denied that retirement was a consideration for him.

Fitzgerald, 33, agreed to renegotiate his seven-year $113 million contract and signed a two-year, $22 million deal with Arizona that was fully guaranteed included a no-trade clause last year. Arizona gave him another one-year, $11 million extension before the season, so he’s under contract through 2017.

In 2016, Fitzgerald has appeared in 13 games for the Cardinals and caught 91 passes for 892 yards receiving and five touchdowns for the Cardinals.

Palmer, 36, was in the third year of his four-year, $58.5 million contract and set to make a base salary of $6.35 million for the 2016 season when the Cardinals signed him to a one-year extension worth $24.35 million before the start of the season.

In 2016, Palmer has appeared in 12 games and thrown for 3,376 yards while completing 60.9 percent of his passes to go along with 20 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.