Details emerge on Cardinals star's contract extension

We already knew James Conner was sticking in Arizona. 

The two-time Pro Bowler signed a two-year extension with the Cardinals, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported on Nov. 30. The extension keeps Conner in Arizona through the 2026 season.

Now, details of Conner’s contract have emerged, via OverTheCap. The deal includes $10.39M in total guarantees, including $8.25M of fully guaranteed money. Conner’s $6.75M signing bonus and his $1.5M guaranteed salary in 2025 are both fully guaranteed, with an additional $2.14M of 2025 salary that becomes fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the league year.

The contract also includes $100K in workout bonuses and $510K in per-game roster bonuses in both 2025 and 2026, as well as a $1M roster bonus due on the fifth day of the 2026 league year. Connor’s 2024 salary-cap number rose to $11.24M to account for the $2.25M prorated portion of his new signing bonus. His cap hit will be $6.5M in 2025 and $10.25M in 2026.

Overall, the deal rewards Conner for his success this season with solid guarantees while the structure minimizes risk for the Cardinals if his effectiveness dips next year. Conner can be released after the 2025 season with just $2.25M in dead money while saving $8M against the cap.