Before we start hearing about rookie contracts, I thought we'd take a look at where the Cardinals stand in terms of cap space. The salary cap is kind of like rocket science in that you have to be near genius in order to understand it all. Since I'm no where near that level, I'll defer to the experts on these numbers. This, from what I understand, is a very conservative estimate in that every possible bonus is included, even if it possibly won't count against the cap. Hat tip to joeschmo, resident capologist at azsportsfans for this comprehensive look at the Cardinals' cap for 2008. Here's a couple of things that jump out at me before we get down to the raw numbers.
- Matt Leinart has to step up and show signs of becoming the franchise QB in 2008. Having nearly $10 million tied up in two quarterbacks won't work much longer. Warner's contract ends after 2008 and they need Leinart to be firmly entrenched as the starting and productive QB.
- The offensive line is in better shape than I thought. The entire starting five are signed through at least 2009. Considering that they were at the very least average in 2007 and they were breaking in three new starters, I like the idea of those five guys growing more cohesive. A steady dependable OL will go a long way to helping Leinart develop and help Edge live out his contract.
| Name | Pos. | Base | Bonus | Total |
| Karlos Dansby | LB | 8,065,000 | - | 8,065,000 |
| Larry Fitz | WR | 7,643,334 | - | 7,643,334 |
| Gandy, Mike | OL | 3,500,000 | 3,300,000 | 6,800,000 |
| Edge James | RB | 5,000,000 | 1,750,000 | 6,750,000 |
| Chiki Okeafer | DE | 4,500,000 | 900,000 | 5,400,000 |
| Kurt Warner | QB | 4,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 5,000,000 |
| Adrian Wilson | S | 4,000,000 | 910,000 | 4,910,000 |
| Matt Leinart | QB | 735,000 | 3,848,333 | 4,583,333 |
| Docket, Darnell | DT | 3,250,000 | 700,000 | 3,950,000 |
| Anquan Boldin | WR | 2,500,000 | 1,250,000 | 3,750,000 |
| Johnson, Al | OC | 3,500,000 | - | 3,500,000 |
| Antrel Rolle | CB | 1,210,000 | 2,266,667 | 3,476,667 |
| Levi Brown | OT | 370,002 | 3,016,667 | 3,386,669 |
| Hood, Roderick | CB | 2,500,000 | 500,000 | 3,000,000 |
| Travis Laboy | LB | 750,000 | 1,500,000 | 2,250,000 |
| Antonio Smith | DE | 2,017,000 | - | 2,017,000 |
| Eric Green | CB | 2,017,000 | - | 2,017,000 |
| Berry Bertrand | DE | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 2,000,000 |
| Shipp, Marcel | RB | 1,750,000 | - | 1,750,000 |
| Alan Branch | DT | 370,000 | 1,325,000 | 1,695,000 |
| Hayes, Gerald | LB | 1,500,000 | - | 1,500,000 |
| Neil Rackers | K | 800,000 | 437,500 | 1,237,500 |
| Reggie Wells | G | 1,100,000 | - | 1,100,000 |
| Smith, Terrelle | FB | 850,000 | 200,000 | 1,050,000 |
| JJ Arrington | RB | 520,000 | 525,000 | 1,045,000 |
| Deuce Lutui | OG | 445,000 | 560,000 | 1,005,000 |
| Fransisco,Aaron | DB | 800,000 | 200,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Morey, Sean | WR | 850,000 | 100,000 | 950,000 |
| Elton Brown | OG | 927,000 | - | 927,000 |
| Beisel, Monte | LB | 900,000 | - | 900,000 |
| Jerame Tuman | TE | 730,000 | - | 730,000 |
| Leonard Pope | TE | 445,000 | 215,000 | 660,000 |
| Dirk Johnson | P | 605,000 | - | 605,000 |
| Gabe Watson | NT | 445,000 | 115,833 | 560,833 |
| Rector, Jamaica | WR | 445,000 | - | 445,000 |
| Steve Breaston | WR | 370,000 | 70,000 | 440,000 |
| Minter, DeMario | CB | 370,000 | - | 370,000 |
| Castille, Tim | FB | 370,000 | - | 370,000 |
| Sendlein, Lyle | OC | 370,000 | - | 370,000 |
| Ben Patrick | TE | 370,000 | - | 370,000 |
| Bienemann, Troy | TE | 370,000 | - | 370,000 |
| Bain, Travarous | CB | 295,000 | - | 295,000 |
| Holloway, David | LB | 295,000 | - | 295,000 |
| Vallejo, Elliot | OT | 295,000 | - | 295,000 |
| Baylark, Steve | RB | 295,000 | - | 295,000 |
| Shor, Alex | TE | 295,000 | - | 295,000 |
| Cornelius,Jemal | WR | 295,000 | - | 295,000 |
| Michael Adams | CB | 295,000 | - | 295,000 |
| DEAD CAP SPACE | 2,800,000 | |||
| Cap space left ($116,000,000 max) | 11,749,116 | |||