The Arizona Cardinals could consider a Larry Fitzgerald trade or his release this offseason into 2015, as he is set to get paid a high salary and his cap number could lead to a split and if that happens, teams like the Oakland Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots and Denver Broncos could be interested in acquiring the wideout.
Fitzgerald is one of the most talented players in the league, but his time with the Cardinals could be coming to an end. According to ESPN.com and Fox Sports Arizona, Fitzgerald and the Cardinals have been talking about a new contract agreement, as he is due to be worth over $20 million on the salary cap in 2015, but if those talks don't materialize into a new deal, he could be released or traded. While Fox now reports that there is "positive movement" between the two sides, there is a good chance he could play elsewhere in 2015.
Fitzgerald worked his contract to help save the Cardinals money least year and he may not be willing to do that again. Fox Sports Arizona reported last week that sources said that Fitzgerald did not expect to be with the Cardinals next season. GM Steve Keim said to the media that the team was not planning to release Fitzgerald, but that doesn't rule out a trade. Making a trade likely will be very difficult for the same reasons why Fitzgerald likely will be gone from the Cardinals: his contract his huge.
Fitzgerald is a Hall of Fame type player, but at 31 years old his production has been declining for the Cardinals and he is set to make a $16.25 million salary and has a $23.6 million cap number. One league executive anonymously told Peter King at the MMQB that having Fitzgerald in on that number is "unworkable" and that he likely would be released. Fitzgerald reportedly has not been happy with how he has been used in the offense over the past two seasons and that could play into how the whole situation turns out.
Last year Fitzgerald was one of the receiving leaders on the Cardinals, but the emergence of John Brown and Michael Floyd has pushed him down on the depth chart. Last season Fitzgerald missed two games and that was the first time in six seasons that he has missed time for an injury. Fitzgerald had just 63 catches for 784 yards and two touchdowns, which were some of the lowest totals of his career. The two scores were a career low and the 63 catches were his lowest total since the first three seasons of his career.
Fitzgerald has had a career as consistent as anyone in the league, as he has not ever had a serious injury and for a stretch he put up at least 1000 yards in six out of seven seasons. Fitzgerald had a run of 90 catches or more for five of six seasons and he has been in the triple digits twice. According to ESPN Boston, if the Cardinals part ways with Fitzgerald, the team will very interested in signing him, as they are planning to dump Danny Amendola after the season ends.