The Arizona Cardinals and linebacker Devon Kennard agreed last week to a restructured contract for him to remain on the team for a third season. He was considered a candidate to be released because of salary cap implications, but he has reduced his cap hit.
His contract was going to count more than $9 million against the salary cap and he was due to make $6.75 million in salary.
We now know the details of the restructure.
He reduced his salary to league minimum of $1.12 million. $600,000 of his salary is fully guaranteed, all but making him a lock to be on the roster this season. He can also earn up to $380,000 in per-game roster bonuses for being active on game days.
Because his contract carries more than $2.1 million in prorated charges for his signing bonus and a previous restructure, his cap hit in 2022 will be as much as $3.61 million, which is far less than the roughly $9.1 million it was scheduled to be.
He originally signed a three-year, $20 million contract after he was released by the Detroit Lions. His first two seasons were disappointments. He dealt with injuries, COVID-19 and then getting replaced in the starting lineup by Markus Golden.
He did not play up to his own standards. He was willing to come back and stay home (he grew up in Arizona and his father played for the Cardinals) and take less money after he earned a lot for little production.
It is not unlike what cornerback Robert Alford did last year after two years of getting hurt before the season began. He returned on a one-year, minimum-salary deal and was productive.
Hopefully, this plays out the same way and Kennard can be a solid contributor in 2022.
The Cardinals keep a solid veteran and great teammate and save $5.5 million in cap space.
It is a good move.
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