A Wednesday report revealed that there had “been movement” regarding the Arizona Cardinals and wide receiver Michael Wilson potentially signing a contract extension before the start of the 2026 regular season.
It turns out the two sides were closer to getting a deal done than some thought.
How much Cardinals gave Michael Wilson to sign ahead of Week 1
On Thursday afternoon, ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Cardinals and Wilson have agreed to a three-year, $75M extension. The deal includes $47M guaranteed, has a maximum value of $78M and ensures that the Cardinals could hold onto his rights through the 2029 campaign.
According to Schefter and Rapoport, “talks on Wilson’s deal began earlier this offseason and included a number of offers that Wilson’s team did not deem sufficient.” Wilson had a year left on his rookie contract, but the Cardinals now won’t have to consider possibly using the franchise tag on him in 2027.
Why the Cardinals were smart to lock Michael Wilson down now
Despite what has been said and written about the Cardinals throughout the summer, they are not fully “tanking” the 2026 season with the 2027 NFL Draft in mind. If that weren’t the case, Arizona wouldn’t have reworked the deal for journeyman quarterback Jacoby Brissett to be the club’s Week 1 starter.
As for Wilson, ESPN stats show that the 26-year-old ended the 2025 season ranked second on the Cardinals with 78 receptions, 126 targets, 1,006 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns. While he has already established a good working relationship with Brissett, signing Wilson now is a move that gives the team’s next starting quarterback a reliable receiver as a weapon.
Logic suggests that Arizona will have 2026 third-round draft pick Carson Beck or a 2027 rookie atop the depth chart next September. Either quarterback will be on an inexpensive rookie contract, meaning the Cardinals had no reason to play hardball with Wilson’s camp.
Wilson will now have millions of reasons to be happy when Arizona opens the upcoming season with a matchup at the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 13.
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