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Cardinals rework Justin Pugh’s deal
Arizona Cardinals have trim offensive lineman Justin Pugh (67) base salary. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Cardinals have restructured Justin Pugh‘s contract, according to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network. The new deal will trim Pugh’s base salary from $9.8M to $5.5M, freeing up a nice chunk of change for Arizona heading into free agency. 

It’s a substantial pay cut for the veteran offensive guard, though he can still recoup $1.5M via incentives. The 31-year-old (32 in August) joined the Cardinals on a five-year, $45M deal in 2018, though he has forfeited a good chunk of change since then. Last year, Pugh took a pay cut that dropped his base salary from $7.75M to $5M.

The former first-round pick has stabilized his career while working mostly at left guard over the past three seasons. After injuries derailed his 2017 and ’18 seasons, Pugh has started 44 games since Kyler Murray‘s 2019 arrival.

Despite the contract adjustments, Pugh remains signed through the 2022 season. He’ll now have an opportunity to reclaim some of his value in his walk year.

This article first appeared on Pro Football Rumors and was syndicated with permission.

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