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Arizona Cardinals Immediate Future Looks Bright

By Johnathan Henson

Nov 23, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones (95) stretches before their game against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones (95) stretches before their game against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 20, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Arizona Cardinals free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) breaks up a pass play to Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz (86) during the first half at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Arizona Cardinals free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) breaks up a pass play to Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz (86) during the first half at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

The Arizona Cardinals are good position with the salary cap, having an estimated (before resigning anyone for this offseason) $93,059,554  (according to overthecap.com) on the books for 2017. The estimated rise in the salary cap is unknown, but everyone would be smart to bet on it increasing to the mid $165 million. Point is to say that the Cardinals might have a little bit of cap space next offseason, and the Cardinals will have the opportunity to sign their own, while staying competitive in the market. Who should the Arizona Cardinals start with then?

My first guess is the Honey Badger, as Tyrann Mathieu is a stable piece that should be demanding top dollar as a do-it-all type of piece, and his money will be huge in the offseason of 2017. Ty was in the running for Defensive Player of the Year, and before his season ending injury, it seemed realistic.

Next, a proven commodity, Calais Campbell. I know it seems like a defensive push, but Calais has been a staple in the middle, often dealing with double and sometimes triple teams. He could be a Cardinal for life, as his unselfishness seems to draw the Cardinals to Calais, and the Cardinals fans don’t want him to leave. Another guy, Larry Fitzgerald, seems like an important piece. To the Cardinals cap, he is already going to account for an estimated $8M-$9M because of his restructure.

The Cardinals are all but certainly stuck with the cap hit, and Larry Fitzgerald will certainly have his money from the dead money. The thing is, if I’m Larry Fitzgerald, why not take a smaller amount of money since your already accounting to the cap.

I think it’s absolutely possible and feasible, and Larry Fitzgerald already has made it clear there is no team he’d rather play for. I don’t think for an average of $14M-$17M is possible, but he might not have to make that much.

The Arizona Cardinals also have to think about the newly acquired Chandler Jones, as he just watched guys with lesser stats (Olivier Vernon and Jason Pierre-Paul) make more money then he did. Chandler could be looking at a huge payday, but heed my warning, don’t overpay.

Some suggest he could be franchise tagged, I don’t know what the brain-trust of Steve Keim and Terry McDonough are thinking, but he could eventually take a smaller piece of the pie. Michael Floyd, another guy looking to be a number one receiver, could be looking to get a raise, and deservedly so. The Cardinals should be looking at Chandler Jones and Michael Floyd with the same optical view; resign them, but don’t overpay in doing so.

Let’s see what I think these guys deserve:

Next: Plenty of Money to go Around

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