The Cardinals are not expected to lock up Michael Wilson before the season, and the receiver is now likely to head toward free agency next March unless the talks change quickly. That leaves Arizona on the edge of its opener with one of its more productive young pass catchers still without a long-term deal.
Wilson, the 2023 third-round pick from Stanford, has given the Cardinals plenty to weigh. He finished his first two seasons with 85 receptions, 1,113 yards and seven touchdowns, then delivered his best stretch last year after Jacoby Brissett took over in Week 6. Over the final months, he put together four straight games with at least four catches and between 34 and 61 yards, then had 15 catches for 185 yards in a Week 11 loss to the 49ers, 10 catches on 15 targets for 118 yards in a Week 12 loss to the Jaguars and 11 grabs for 142 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to the Rams two weeks later.
That late surge explains why Wilson’s name has stayed in the conversation. He had expressed interest in staying in Arizona for the long haul, and he seemed to be moving toward an extension in late June. A mid-August update suggested nothing was imminent, but the broader picture still pointed toward a deal being possible before the season arrived.
Then the tone shifted. Jeremy Fowler reported Wednesday afternoon that an agreement before the season was unlikely and that Wilson was likely to reach free agency next March. Later that night, Josh Weinfuss said there had been some movement in talks and that a deal could come together this week. Those two updates do not cancel each other out, but they do show how close this situation is to the point where either side could still change the outcome.
The Cardinals have reason to be careful with the rest of their cap picture, too. They already have Trey McBride on a four-year, $76 million pact and Jeremiyah Love on a fully guaranteed deal worth more than $53 million, while the team drafted Marvin Harrison Jr. fourth overall to become its long-term No. 1 wideout. Wilson’s path has also been shaped by Harrison’s absences; all three of his 100-yard games last season came when Harrison was unavailable, and Harrison missed five games in his second year.
For now, the cleanest read is that Wilson and the Cardinals are still trying to bridge a gap that looked much smaller in June than it does today. With 11 days left before the season, the next move may decide whether Arizona keeps him in place for years or lets one of its most reliable receivers test the market in March.
