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Cardinals’ Blake Gillikin: Remaining in Arizona
Gillikin (back) and the Cardinals agreed on a one-year, $2.65 million contract Sunday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Gillikin will stick around as Arizona’s expected starter at punter heading into the 2026 season. The 28-year-old suffered a back injury in October, ultimately being placed on injured reserve. Gillikin will look to prove his health and be ready to go for OTAs in late May.
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Cardinals’ Chad Ryland: Staying in Arizona
Ryland agreed to sign a one-year deal with the Cardinals on Sunday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Ryland was slated to become a restricted free agent but will remain with the Cardinals after he suffered a down year in 2025, when he converted 25 of 33 field-goal attempts and all 36 of his PATs over 17 regular-season games. The 26-year-old hit 28 of his 32 field-goal tries over 13 contests in 2024. Arizona also signed Joshua Karty from the Rams’ practice squad in December, and he’ll likely compete with Ryland for the starting kicker job heading into the 2026 campaign, according to Darren Urban of the team’s official site.
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Cardinals’ Sean Murphy-Bunting: Sticking with Arizona
Murphy-Bunting (knee) agreed to a restructured contract with the Cardinals on Sunday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Murphy-Bunting missed the entire 2025 season with an undisclosed knee issue after being placed on the reserve/non-football injury list last May. The 28-year-old tallied 52 tackles and five passes defended, including three interceptions, over 15 regular-season games during his first season with the Cardinals in 2024. Murphy-Bunting is entering the final year of his contract in 2026.
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Cardinals’ James Conner: Alters contract with Arizona
The Cardinals and Conner (foot) agreed to a restructured contract Sunday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
The details of the revisions are not yet public, but the move ensures that Conner will be in Arizona for the 2026 season. The veteran running back was limited to just three regular-season games in 2025 before suffering a foot injury in September that required season-ending surgery. Assuming he’s healthy for the start of next season, Conner should operate as the Cardinals’ RB1 while Trey Benson (knee) serves as the top backup option in the backfield.