Cardinals CB Robert Alford (Tyler Drake / Arizona Sports)
Arizona Cardinals launched cornerback Robert Alford on Wednesday to free up $ 7.5 million in salary cap space.
Alford’s contract had an upper limit of $ 9 million, with $ 1.5 million in dead money.
Arizona Sports’ John gambadoro he adds it wouldn’t be a surprise for Alford to find his way back to the Cardinals.
Alford missed the previous two seasons due to injuries sustained on the training ground.
The move comes before the league’s new year starts its free agency period on Wednesday.
Prior to the reduction, Arizona would have an estimated maximum of $ 14.6 million in maximum space if it hired at least 51 players for its roster in 2021, according to OverTheCap.com. This is somewhere close to the median of the entire NFL.
Spotrac.com had an estimated space limit close to $ 15 million after adjusted rollovers in 2020.
The 2021 salary cap decreased from $ 198.2 million last season to $ 182.5 million due to the loss of revenue caused by the coronavirus. The first reduction in the NFL’s salary cap was officially halted last Wednesday, a week before the start of the year 2021.
Earlier on Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported the team had rehired linebacker Tanner Vallejo for a two-year contract worth $ 4.3 million.
Notable free agents for Cardinals include linebacker Haason Reddick, who was not scored last Tuesday. Other impending free agents include cornerback Patrick Peterson, running back Kenyan Drake, nose tackle Corey Peters, linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, right tackle Kelvin Beachum, right guard JR Sweezy and edge rusher Markus Golden.
Receiver Larry Fitzgerald is also a free agent, but is still deciding whether to retire or play in 2021.
Arizona has the largest share of photos taken in 2020 by players who will join a free agency this season, according to Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com. Forty-four percent of the team’s total clicks can be lost at the free agency.
