Michael Wilson contract details, salary, cap hit
A breakdown of the numbers from Michael Wilson's three-year contract extension.
Arizona Cardinals' wide receiver Michael Wilson recently signed a new contract extension, but its exact value remains shrouded in ambiguity. While the reported $47 million in guarantees might suggest a hefty deal, the reality is far more nuanced. Of that amount, only $35 million is guaranteed at signing, leaving a significant portion unprotected for the following years.
What's more, the cap hit for 2026 is notably low at $1.485 million guaranteed, with an additional $10,880 workout bonus. This brings the total for that year to $1.495 million, which is spread across four years, resulting in an average value of $19.734 million.
The fully guaranteed money in the contract includes an $18 million signing bonus, which is prorated over the four years. This contributes to a cap hit of $6.22 million for the current season, a slight increase from the previous contract. However, this figure is set to escalate significantly in the following years, with payments reaching $20.945 million in 2027 alone, $22.59 million in 2028, and a staggering $29.404 million in 2029.
The structure of this contract extension is intentionally designed to keep Wilson's base salary relatively low, with guaranteed payments and significant escalators tied to his performance. This strategy not only keeps his cap hit manageable but also provides room for significant earnings boosts based on his production.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
