:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69013158/1279038216.0.jpg)
The Arizona Cardinals quietly made a salary cap move this week.
According to Over the Cap, Justin Pugh’s contract has been restructured or maybe even he took a straight paycut, as the Cardinals added salary cap space.
Looks like Justin Pugh did in fact restructure.
— Johnny Venerable (@JohnnyVenerable) March 23, 2021
Good find! https://t.co/6a3KMg2oGH
he might've taken a pay cut b/c his 2022 cap hit is still the same ~12M w/ the same ~10M cap gain from cutting him
— J Cali (@JCAL_azcardsfan) March 23, 2021
pay-cut would be a win-win. don't have to cut him/don't have to restructure and hurt future cap space
now they can cut him after next season and gain ~10M in 2022
So, looking at the numbers it looks like the Arizona Cardinals did not pay Justin Pugh his $500k bonus and reduced his salary from $7.75 million to $4 million. So, the Cardinals save $4.25 million in cap space.
This frees up some space for the Cardinals to continue to pursue free agents and look to continue to improve the roster.
The Cardinals have obviously been busy, but they still need to find a cornerback or two and a tight end.
That salary free up would likely give them one of those positions. Of course, who knows maybe they like another player at a different position.
But, we know Justin Pugh will be back in 2021 at a reduced salary, meaning he knows the Cardinals are going all in and Pugh wants to be part of it.