USAT: Cards Wire audio clip

USAT: Cards Wire

Mar 9, 2022

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. - - List - - The projected value for the Cardinals' soon-to-be free agents - - - - - - - Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify. - Latest show: - - - Previous shows: - - - and - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Email - - - - - Sign up - - - - - - - - Like this article? - Sign up for the Cards Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning - - - - An error has occured - - - Please re-enter your email address. - - - - - - Thanks for signing up! - - - You'll now receive the top Cards Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.

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