Just over a year after signing an extension to stay in the desert, running back James Conner appeared to be a cap casualty for the Arizona Cardinals before NFL free agency opens.
Conner, entering his age 31 season, only played three games last season after a foot injury that required surgery cut his season short. He ran for more than 1,000 yards in each of the two prior seasons and established himself as the lead back in Arizona, leading to a two-year, $19 million contract extension in November 2024.
Instead of the Cardinals cutting bait and saving some money, the team is bringing back the star tailback for another season. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported on Sunday that the Cardinals and Conner agreed to a revised contract to keep him with the team for the 2026 season.
New Cardinals head coach Mike LaFluer won't have to worry as much about the depth of the running back room next season. While the specific details of the contract are not public yet, Conner is likely taking a pay cut to return, meaning the Cardinals can afford to spend elsewhere, specifically on a quarterback. The Cardinals have been heavily linked to Packers QB Malik Willis ahead of free agency.
Conner was a third-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017. After spending four seasons with the team, he signed with the Cardinals in free agency in 2021 and has been with the team ever since.
The Cardinals would have saved $7.5 million by cutting Conner this offseason, but the team will still have close to $48 million in cap space.
Teams can begin negotiating and agreeing to terms with players in free agency on Monday, while all deals can be finalized on Wednesday.
For LaFluer, bringing back a team captain like Conner should take some of the pressure off his back while trying to turn the team around in a competitive division. The big gamble is seeing how Conner will respond to his injury, even with Trey Benson present as a capable backup.
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