Paris Johnson’s contract situation is already pointing beyond the Cardinals’ decision to pick up his $19 million option through 2027. The left tackle is under team control for now, but he’s clearly thinking in bigger terms about where he wants to land when the next deal comes around.
That bigger picture came into focus back in June, when Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reported that Johnson wants to be “a $40 million-per-year left tackle.” That would be a massive leap from the current market, where Commanders tackle Laremy Tunsil sits at the top at just over $30 million per year. Johnson addressed that comment during an appearance on the PHNX Cardinals podcast, and he said the number was never really the point.
“it’s not me thinking about getting the money, per se,” Johnson said, explaining that the real issue is the standard he sets for himself against the kind of pass rushers who are paid to wreck games.
“When I started speaking on that, the question was more about how you would grade an elite tackle and how you start to measure yourself as an elite tackle,” Johnson said. “My answer was exactly this: when I watch tape, when I go to practice and when I play in a game, my mindset is to be the $40 million man.
When I watch my tape, I ask myself, ‘Would you pay this guy $40 million?’ That’s how I watch my tape.
That’s how I go out to practice. That’s how I play.
Because the guy I’m lining up against, if he’s worth something, he’s worth at least $35 million to $50 million. Now, the tackle market isn’t there.
The tackle market usually goes up by about one million over the next guy, and that’s just what it is. The D-linemen are not going for that.
That’s another conversation. But my mindset is that elite guys who are rushing the quarterback - that’s what the market is for them.
And I believe it takes an equivalent-level player to shut that guy down. So I’m not going out there thinking, ‘Pay me $28 million or $28.5 million.’”
Johnson’s next road gets tougher in 2026 with Myles Garrett now on the list of pass rushers he’ll have to deal with. Stopping players like that won’t automatically push him to $40 million, but it would go a long way toward strengthening his case when it’s time for his next contract.
In Other News...
Rams Just Sent Cardinals Fans A Strange SoFi Reminder
A familiar NFC West trip to SoFi Stadium is getting a little extra theater in 2026, when the Rams plan a limited-edition replica Championship ring giveaway for the first 60,000 fans through the gates. The promotion is tied to Los Angeles Week 6 home game against the Cardinals, a matchup that already carries plenty of division heat and now comes with a souvenir that should make the building feel even more like an event.
The choice of opponent says as much about the market as it does about the matchup. Since the Rams returned to Los Angeles, the citys fan mix has made certain home games feel less like a standard home date and more like a referendum on who really owns the stands, and the Cardinals were selected because that game is expected to bring the heaviest Rams presence of any home game that season. [Read more 🡒]
One NFL Date Could Force The Cardinals Decision Fans Dread
The NFLs latest calendar dump did more than mark out the usual checkpoints for the coming season. For Arizona, it puts a hard edge on the next few months, with roster decisions due before the regular season and the front office already having to think about how the group around Mike LaFleur will take shape over time. In that kind of setup, every date matters, because the Cardinals are not just sorting out the present roster, they are also trying to keep enough flexibility to build for what comes next.
The bigger pressure point is how those dates could force a choice fans would rather avoid. Arizona may have to weigh whether to stand pat or use the market to create room and assets, especially with the roster needing to get down to 53 players and the franchise eyeing the 2027 draft and free agency as major building blocks. The trade deadline is part of the equation too, and for a team trying to balance short-term depth with long-term planning, one of these calendar markers could end up pushing the Cardinals into a move they would prefer not to make. [Read more 🡒]
Zaven Collins Just Sent A Strong Message About Arizonas Future
Zaven Collins has spent enough time around the Cardinals to know when a room has the right kind of energy, and he sounded upbeat when talking about Arizonas quarterback situation in a recent interview. He pointed to Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew and rookie Carson Beck as a group he believes in, a sign that the linebacker sees more stability than uncertainty as the team leans into a new season.
Collins also made it clear where his own head is at, even if the contract side of things is still on the back burner for now. He said extension talks have not started yet and figures those conversations will come after the upcoming season, while also praising the organization and coaching staff as reasons he wants to keep building in Arizona. [Read more 🡒]