Paris Johnson Jr. isn’t shy about where he thinks his value should land.
The Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle said this week that his earlier comments about wanting a deal worth $40 million per year came from a discussion about how he would rate himself as an elite tackle. His point was simple: if offensive linemen are tasked with stopping edge rushers who can earn as much as $50 million annually, then the best pass protectors ought to be paid on that level too.
"Of course, I believe in myself," Johnson said on PHNX Sports. "I believe I'm one of the best, and I believe that I have to prove that each and every year. And I believe my best football is ahead of me."
He made clear that he understands where the market actually sits right now, even if he thinks elite tackles deserve more.
"Now, the tackle market is not there. The tackle market, it goes up, probably $1 (million) over the next guy, and that's just what it is.
The D-linemen are not going for ($35 million-$50 million). That's another conversation.
"However, my mindset is: I believe that elite guys who rush the quarterback, that's what the market is for them. And I believe that it takes an equivalent-level player to shut that guy down.
So I'm not going out there, 'Oh, pay me $28 million, $28.5 (million).' No.
When the guy I'm going against is making $48 (million) a year, I need a $48 (million) mindset for myself. I know that's not what the market is."
Right now, the top salary at the position belongs to Washington Commanders tackle Laremy Tunsil, who makes $30.1 million per season. On the other side of the line, Houston Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. signed a deal in April that carries an average annual salary of $50 million.
Johnson is now eligible for an extension after finishing his third season. The Cardinals already picked up his fifth-year option three months ago, a move worth just over $19 million that keeps him under contract through the 2027 season.
The 25-year-old has been Arizona’s primary starting left tackle since his rookie year. Last season, he appeared in 12 games and gave up five sacks and 34 pressures in 269 pass-blocking snaps, according to PFF.
Arizona opens training camp July 22 and begins the season Sept. 13 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
In Other News...
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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
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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 🡒]