3 notable Arizona Cardinals entering a contract year in 2022

J.J. Watt’s 2-year, $28M deal was seen as a big red flag when he was first signed, but the Cardinals manipulated the contract skillfully to minimize his cap hit. Currently carrying an $18M cap hit for the season, he becomes a free agent at the end of this season.

There’s no doubt that Watt is the indisputable leader of the Cardinals’ defense, and without him on the field last year, the Cardinals struggled.

Watt needs to be kept at all costs, for his skills on and off the field are what help the Cardinals so much. A leader and a humanitarian, there’s no reason Watt shouldn’t be able to finish his career in Arizona.

He could end up how Larry Fitzgerald made the last few of his contracts; short, prove-it deals with more guaranteed money to keep renewing year after year.