In what will be viewed as a surprise move, the Arizona Cardinals are keeping linebacker Devon Kennard. After signing a three-year, $20 million contract in 2020, he found himself buried on the depth chart after injuries, COVID-19 and trade for Markus Golden.
Because of his scheduled $6.75 million in scheduled salary, he was expected to be a cap casualty. However, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, he will remain with the Cardinals, avoiding a release.
He is agreeing to redo his contract, although the financial details were not reported. It could be a simple salary reduction, as Jordan Hicks and Justin Pugh did last offseason.
Kennard grew up in Arizona, his father played for the Cardinals and his family remains here.
The move can save the Cardinals a maximum of about $5.8 million, depending on the details of the redone deal.
If he agrees to take the league minimum salary for his experience in the league at $1.12 million, his cap hit would be reduced from a little more than $9 million to about $3.2 million.
Keeping Kennard on the team assures that the team retains a player with experience in the defense.
A worst-case scenario could have him and Markus Golden starting at outside linebacker in base packages with J.J. Watt moving to the edge when they sub to nickel.
Between the new contract for Kennard and the release of Jordan Hicks, the Cardinals have cleared as much as more than $12 million in cap space a week before free agency.
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