Arizona Cardinals’ cap space to limit aggressiveness in free agency
Mar 1, 2018, 10:18 AM | Updated: 10:40 am
Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks speaks during a press conference at the NFL Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
After an 8-8 season a year ago, the Arizona Cardinals have significant holes to fill on their roster but considerably less cap room than most NFL teams.
The team’s first offseason under new head coach Steve Wilks will be a challenge as Arizona is in the market for wide receivers, cornerbacks, offensive linemen and most notably a starting quarterback. With around $22 million available, the Cardinals will be limited to a degree but it is expected that they will remain active in the free agent market.
In a story by ESPN.com, NFL Nation reporters projected the activity of all 32 teams in free agency using a four-pronged scale. According to ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss, the Cardinals were listed at the second-highest level titled ‘active, but not breaking the bank.’
The Cardinals would have fallen under “aggressive,” but they currently have only about $22 million in cap space, allowing them to be active but not too aggressive. If the Cardinals open up more cap room, they could be aggressive in free agency to start molding the roster to new head coach Steve Wilks’ liking.
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Arizona ranks 21st in the NFL in available salary cap space, according to Spotrac.com
After Carson Palmer retired following the 2017 season, quarterback became an immediate position of need for the Cardinals. While Arizona’s cap room is limiting, money won’t deter Wilks and general manager Steve Keim from pursuing the top available signal-callers.
With the start of the new league year less than two weeks away, Cardinals fans must now play a waiting game as Wilks and Keim evaluate all prospective options.
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