The NFL free agency period begins tomorrow with the tampering period open from March 9-11, and all contracts become official on March 12, which marks the start of the new NFL year.
The Saturday and Sunday before the start of free agency are typically very busy in terms of announced trades, as well as restructuring of existing contracts aimed at giving the franchise more room to maneuver.
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RELATED: CONNER AGREES TO CONTRACT RESTRUCTURING
In addition to the franchise restructuring of Conner’s deal, the team also restructured the contract of CB Sean Murphy-Bunting, as well as re-signed kicker Chad Ryland.
Many trades are formulated at the Combine, then settled before the start of free agency. Every NFL general manager is located in Indianapolis, home of the Combine, which allows him to come up with ideas and scenarios regarding players. Some deals actually happen at the Combine and are announced, while others are started and agreed to, but don’t end until the following week for one reason or another.
But it was settled in a hotel bar or poolside, or in the gym, or in the stands at the Combine. General managers love doing face-to-face business, and the Senior Bowl and Combine are the only NFL events where all participants are present and available.
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This weekend, Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort was busy with internal laundry when he restructured veteran RB James Conner’s contract just before the start of free agency. Conner had signed a two-year, $19 million extension in November 2024 that would keep him on the roster through the 2026 season. The 31-year-old was scheduled to receive a $1 million bonus on March 15 and is expected to earn $6.4 million this year.
Another contract that was restructured was that of cornerback Murphy-Bunting. He arrived in Arizona in 2024 and signed a three-year contract, $$25.50 million deal, which involved $17.39 million guaranteed, including $14.19 million guaranteed at signing. He was originally selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He made 15 starts in his first year with the Cardinals, with 52 tackles, three tackles for loss, zero sacks, five strikeouts and three picks. However, in May last year, before training camp began, he suffered a gruesome knee injury away from the training center. The injury and subsequent surgery placed Murphy-Bunting on the reserve/non-football injury list, meaning he was subsequently sidelined for the entire 2025 season.
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Murphy-Bunting is expected to compete for a starting position in the defensive backfield and could become the dark horse of the Cardinals defense this year. The team was expected to cut him this offseason, which would have saved $7.2 million in cap space by releasing him. But instead, Ossenfort has restructured his contract and wants him to arrive healthy and return to a starting role.
One of the reasons the franchise is bringing back Murphy-Bunting is because new head coach Mike LaFleur retained DC Nick Rallis, who wanted the cornerback. The defensive backfield already has young players such as Will Johnson, Garrett Williams, Max Melton and the emergence of Denzel Burke, and Rallis believes Murphy-Bunting ties this group all together. His veteran presence should become the glue of this group.
This also allows Ossenfort to focus on other positions needed in the April NFL Draft instead of the cornerback room.
Additionally, kicker Ryland signed another one-year contract. This is a smart move as Ryland has shown a reliable leg and has been very consistent.
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Last year, in his second season with Arizona, Ryland played in all 17 games and made 25 of 33 field goals for a 75.8 percent accuracy rate. He was 6-10 out of 50+, which was his weakest distance. He converted on every PAT going 36-36 and had 82 kickoffs with 20 touchbacks.
In 2024, Ryland converted 28 of 32 field goals (87.5%) and missed just one PAT in 27 attempts.
