Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald wound up restructuring his contract during the offseason to get his cap figure down to something for manageable for the team as they prepared for free agency.
Fitzgerald acknowledged to reporters that there is a very good chance that they will have to do something to his contract again next year when his cap figure will increase from $15 million to a staggering $23.6 million.
“The cap number is what the cap number is,” Fitzgerald said, via Darren Urban of AzCardinals.com. “I could go out this year and get 2,600 yards and that cap number is still going to have to be addressed, know what I mean? It doesn’t matter how well I play or how bad I play, it’s going to be addressed. I don’t even think about it.”
Fitzgerald, 31, is entering the fourth year of his eight-year, $128.5 million contract that included $50 million guaranteed. After reworking his contract, Fitzgerald received an $11.75 million signing bonus and has a base salary of $1 million for the 2014 season.
Next year, the Cardinals will face a decision regarding his $8 million roster bonus that’s due in March. Fitzgerald is also due to make a base salary of $8 million in 2015.
After that, his salaries are $15 million and $14.75 million from the final two years of the agreement.
In the past two years, Fitzgerald has seen his production dip to some degree, even though that could be related to the team’s quarterback play.
Over this span of time, he’s averaging 77 receptions for 876 yards receiving and two touchdowns. While that’s pretty decent for a No. 2 receiver, it’s probably not enough to convince the Cardinals to keep his cap figure at $23.6 million next year.
I’m sure we’ll be hearing plenty about Fitzgerald’s contract towards the end of the season.
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