Reduced salary cap could decimate the 2021 Arizona Cardinals
By Jim Koch
A significantly lower salary cap figure could have a debilitating effect on the Arizona Cardinals talent pool next season
Over the past several months, the Arizona Cardinals have received high praise for what they’ve accomplished this offseason. General manager Steve Keim and company have done a fantastic job of assembling what appears to be a playoff-caliber roster. Unfortunately, the window to the postseason could potentially close rather quickly for the Cardinals by the time the 2021 campaign arrives.
As we all know, COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on the entire world. The pandemic has taken jobs, and lives, from a tremendous number of people. Even the sports world has been impacted by the outbreak of the coronavirus.
The upcoming football season, assuming that there will actually be one, will likely be played with no fans in attendance. No spectators in the seats will result in a significant financial loss for the league. That lack of revenue could greatly affect the NFL’s salary cap figure in ’21.
A cap number that currently stands at roughly $209 million could decrease by as much as $40 million next year. That’s bad news for an Arizona club that will have several of their top performers testing the free agent waters when the next offseason gets underway. As a result, the Cards may be forced to part ways with some individuals who they’d much rather keep around.
One of the biggest names who’ll be seeking a new contract from the Cardinals is cornerback Patrick Peterson. Kenyan Drake, a running back who many experts believe will post outstanding numbers this coming fall, will also be looking to get paid. Other potential Arizona free agents include Budda Baker, Larry Fitzgerald, Corey Peters, Andy Lee and Zane Gonzalez.
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The Cards front office has put together what resembles the squad’s best collection of talent in five years. If certain projections turn out to be true, however, the team could look a lot less formidable in ’21. The pressure could be on for the Cardinals to try to make something special happen in the upcoming months.