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The 2026 league year is coming next month. It officially begins on March 11, with the legal negotiating period beginning on March 9.
The Arizona Cardinals have many roster decisions to make before then.
Leading up to the new league year, we will profile every player on the roster, go over what they did last season, what their contract status is and what they face in 2026.
Next up is cornerback Max Melton.
Melton, drafted in the second round in 2024, saw his role go from starter to not playing on defense. Whether that was more about him or more about the play of 2025 fifth-round pick Denzel Burke, we will see.
He, like the rest of the cornerback room, dealt with injuries. He had a knee injury, a hamstring injury, a concussion and a heel injury.
He played in 10 games, starting eight, and logged 31 total tackles and five pass breakups.
Melton enters Year 3 of his rookie deal. He is scheduled to make a full guaranteed more than $1.6 million in salary in 2026. HIs cap number is more than $2.4 million. He is signed through 2027 and will be an unrestricted free agent.
On paper, he should be expected to battle for a starting role. However, based on his decreased role toward the end of last season, even when healthy, it makes one wonder if he will be a player they try to trade.
But if not traded, he will hopefully end up being part of the defensive rotation in 2026.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Max Melton's contract status and 2026 offseason outlook
Continue reading...
The Arizona Cardinals have many roster decisions to make before then.
Leading up to the new league year, we will profile every player on the roster, go over what they did last season, what their contract status is and what they face in 2026.
Next up is cornerback Max Melton.
Max Melton 2025 season
Melton, drafted in the second round in 2024, saw his role go from starter to not playing on defense. Whether that was more about him or more about the play of 2025 fifth-round pick Denzel Burke, we will see.
He, like the rest of the cornerback room, dealt with injuries. He had a knee injury, a hamstring injury, a concussion and a heel injury.
He played in 10 games, starting eight, and logged 31 total tackles and five pass breakups.
Max Melton contract status
Melton enters Year 3 of his rookie deal. He is scheduled to make a full guaranteed more than $1.6 million in salary in 2026. HIs cap number is more than $2.4 million. He is signed through 2027 and will be an unrestricted free agent.
Max Melton offseason outlook
On paper, he should be expected to battle for a starting role. However, based on his decreased role toward the end of last season, even when healthy, it makes one wonder if he will be a player they try to trade.
But if not traded, he will hopefully end up being part of the defensive rotation in 2026.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Max Melton's contract status and 2026 offseason outlook
Continue reading...
