Ian Rapoport reports that the Cardinals could potentially trade RB David Johnson this offseason in order to lessen the impact of his contract going forward.
Earlier today, Cardinals GM Steve Keim said in an interview with Arizona Sports 98.7 that releasing Johnson is “not an option” this offseason given his guaranteed $10.2 million salary, per Darren Urban.
“Cutting him is not an option,” Keim said. “Not only the cap hit, but you’re still paying him the cash as well, and it wouldn’t be responsible for me or the organization for me to do that.”
Johnson hasn’t come close to living up to his contract and was clearly supplanted by Kenyon Drake last year, who is likely to be re-signed or franchise tagged by Arizona.
According to OverTheCap.com, trading Johnson would create $8,156,250 million in cap space and $6,000,000 in dead money.
Johnson, 28, was taken in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Cardinals. He was entering the final year of his four-year, $2.992 million contract when he agreed to a three-year, $39 million extension worth up to $45 million.
Johnson stands to make base salaries of $10,200,000 and $7,950,000 over the final two years of the deal.
In 2019, Johnson appeared in 13 games for the Cardinals and rushed 345 yards on 94 carries (3.7 YPC) to go along with 36 receptions for 370 yards receiving and six total touchdowns.
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