The Arizona Cardinals may look at the trade or release of Larry Fitzgerald this offseason and if that happens, teams like the New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns could be interested in adding him for 2015, as the wide receiver still has plenty left in the tank, but his time with the Cards could be over.
Fitzgerald is coming off of one of his worst statistical seasons despite being one of the receiving leaders for the Cardinals and the reason he could be out is due to his high contract number. Fitzgerald counts for a ton on the salary cap and with the Cardinals having at least 10 players hit free agency, they likely need to free up some space moving forward. According to ESPN.com, sources have said that Fitzgerald expects to get asked to take a pay cut again this season and that could lead to his eventual exit from Arizona.
Fox Sports Arizona reported that Fitzgerald "likely" will not be on the roster come 2015 due to his $23.6 million cap number, but there is a chance the two sides could work out a new deal. According to Mike Jurecki from Fox, the two sides have made some "positive movement" and that could lead to Fitzgerald staying for the near future. Fitzgerald was reportedly unhappy with his role on offense this season and last year, as he was used more as a slot player and not on as many deep routes as in the past.
Fitzgerald has a base salary of $16.25 million this season and while he is a Hall of Fame talent, at 31 years old he is simply not producing like that type of player anymore. The Cardinals cannot sustain having that high of a cap number on one player that is 31 while building a winner and if Fitzgerald doesn't take a pay cut, he could be let go. The team can't hold onto his salary cap number where it is, as it takes up way too much of the cap and this would be twice in as many seasons that Fitzgerald has to take a pay cut.
Fitzgerald had a down year despite being one of the leaders for the Cardinals, as he once again was under 800 yards receiving, the second time he has done that in three years. Fitzgerald came in with five straight 1000 yard seasons, but the last three have been below that number and he had just 63 catches this season, a low since back in his rookie season. Bruce Arian has Michael Floyd and John Brown as options that are emerging and that have pushed Fitzgerald back a bit.
If Fitzgerald is let go, ESPN Boston has reported that the Patriots will be interested in him. The team is likely going to cut Danny Amendola and that would open things up for Fitzgerald. The Eagles, Browns, Vikings and Seahawks also could be interested in Fitzgerald. The Browns may lose Josh Gordon, while the Eagles let DeSean Jackson go last year and now may lose Jeremy Maclin to free agency and he could be a solid replacement.