The Arizona Cardinals and Larry Fitzgerald could be headed for a split through a trade or release for the wide receiver after the season and if he plays elsewhere in 2015, teams like the Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers could be potential options for the wide receiver.
Fitzgerald has spent his entire career with the Cardinals, but he could be on his way out of Arizona due to his high salary next season. According to Fox Sports Arizona, sources have said that Fitzgerald does not expect to be back with the Cardinals next season, as he does not want to restructure his salary and has not been totally pleased with his role on the team. Fitzgerald is set to take a $23 million cap hit next year and on top of that he previously restructured his deal and is not looking to do it again.
One executive said to ESPN that the cap hit for Fitzgerald next season is "unworkable" for a player his age and that is why a split is very likely. A trade is likely off the table for the same reasons, as teams will not be able to take on that amount of money. The 31-year-old Fitzgerald will get plenty of interest on the market if he is released, as teams like the Patriots, Raiders, Browns and Vikings all could use a playmaker at WR. While Fitzgerald is not the player he once was, he is a Hall of fame talent and he could thrive with a change of scenery.
Fitzgerald has not been over 1000 yards for three straight seasons and his production over the past three years has not lived up to his salary. The emergence of John Brown and Michael Floyd has pushed Fitzgerald into more of a slot role and that is something that the wideout has not been happy with. ESPN Boston reporter Mike Reiss writes that the Patriots will have interest in Fitzgerald if he ends up on the market, as they likely will be releasing Danny Amendola this offseason.
Fitzgerald will be 32 years old next season and the Cardinals reportedly will ask him to restructure his contract with a pay cut this year. If Fitzgerald holds firm he could be on his way out with the Cardinals and that means his final game with the Cardinals will be the playoffs loss against the Carolina Panthers. Fitzgerald has a cap hit at over $20 million and has a $16 million salary.
Fitzgerald comes in after putting up 63 catches for 784 yards this season and just two touchdowns, the lowest scoring total of his career. Fitzgerald has not been over 1000 yards or 85 catches in the last three seasons and that snapped a streak of going for over 1000 yards in five straight seasons. Fitzgerald had 10 touchdowns last year, but he was greatly affected by the injuries to Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton.
The Vikings have a connection to Fitzgerald from his past, while the Seahawks or 49ers could be divisional options in the NFC West. The Patriots are also a strong option for Fitzgerald if he is injured, as he would fit in right with the Bill Belichick way of doing things.