Cardinals reportedly bring back RB James Conner, CB Sean Murphy-Bunting on revised deals
The Cardinals have reportedly agreed to revised deals that will keep RB James Conner and CB Sean Murphy-Bunting in Arizona.
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The Cardinals have agreed to revised deals that will keep running back James Conner and cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting in Arizona, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo.
The 30-year-old Conner was previously owed a base salary in 2026 of $6.39 million, with a $9.8 million cap hit, according to Over the Cap. The 28-year-old Murphy-Bunting’s deal was for $7.1 million and a $9.2 million cap hit.
Details of the revised deals are not yet known.
Kicker Chad Ryland will also return to Arizona on a one-year deal after he was set to enter restricted free agency, according to Garafolo. Ryland made 25 of 33 field goals and all 36 of his extra points in 2025.
Punter Blake Gillikin is back on a one-year deal worth up to $2.65 million, Garafolo added. He carried a career-high 51.7-yard average on punts in 2025, although it came on 22 punts across five games as he dealt with a back injury.
More about Cardinals bringing back James Conner, Sean Murphy-Bunting
Conner’s return comes after the Cardinals reportedly did not tender RB Emari Demercado, who will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Trey Benson and Corey Kiner are the other remaining running backs under contract from the 2025 team depth chart.
Conner only appeared in three games last season due to a brutal foot injury he suffered against the San Francisco 49ers. He played in at least 13 games in each of his first four years with Arizona.
The former Pittsburgh Steeler posted back-to-back 1,000-plus yard seasons in 2023 and 2024, with 1,040 and 1,094 yards, respectively.
Conner had a career-high 15 rushing touchdowns in 2021, and he was responsible for the Cardinals’ most recent postseason score that season in a 34-11 NFC Wild Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
The nine-year NFL pro and former third-round draft pick continues his Arizona career with 3,782 yards and 39 touchdowns (including postseason) on 865 carries. He added 166 catches (196 targets) for 1,296 yards and eight scores in 61 games (51 starts).
Murphy-Bunting missed the 2025 season due to a non-football injury, which made for a clearer path to playing time for rookie Will Johnson, who landed on the All-Rookie team.
Murphy-Bunting had 52 total tackles in 2024 with five passes defensed across 15 starts, playing on 77% of the defensive snaps in his first year with Arizona. He previously played one season with the Tennessee Titans (2023) and four with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2019-22) after being a second-round draft pick.
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Comments
30 Comments
That original bunting contract is a huge red flag against Monti
Conner is a good dude but sadly he's way behind his expiration date. And now he has a bad wheel.
All evidence points to the Cards trying to tank for Arch - and have grandpa start signing along with Amy Winehouse's zombie. "Wanted Arch to join the Cardinals but grandpa said No, No, No."
I don’t think I agree with this one- and I’m a huge Conner Fan!
The league has a surplus of capable running backs where most teams RB2 are capable of posting a 1k season..
Letting Amari D walk was not very wise- especially when considering he’s only fumbled once in 3 years.. Yes it was brutal, but so were many other plays last year.. But worse is the dude has a career 6.5 ypa..
Only the Cards would know what Connor’s looking like, but we should be in play for any of the available RBs.. Moreover both he and Benson played a combined 6 games last yr..