Editor note: This was first published with the salary information and playing time of a different Michael Carter, a defensive back for the New York Jets. He qualified for a higher tier than the Arizona running back.
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter gets a big raise in 2024 and not because he got a new deal. He gets a raise of about $2 million because he has earned the league’s proven performance salary escalator.
Drafted in the fourth round in 2021, he would have made the league minimum in 2024, getting $1.055 million in salary. His new salary will be $3.11 million.
Why?
He played a decent amount in his first three seasons.
He played 36.2% of the New York Jet’s offensive snaps as a rookie in 2021 and then 44.5% in 2022. He only logged 20.1% last year for an average of 33.6%.
As a former fourth-round pick, to qualify for level one escalator, he would have needed to play at least 35% of his team’s offensive snaps in two of three seasons or average that over three years.
The level two escalator comes into play for playing at least 55% in two of three seasons or averaging that over three.
He accomplished the level one tier but with the first scenario instead of the three-year average.
The level one escalator gives the player the salary equal to an original round restricted free agent tender, which is more than $3.1 million. That is Carter’s salary in 2024 if me makes the final roster.
Carter’s salary escalator might actually complicate his quest to make the team. Assuming the Cardinals keep four running backs, the decision will likely come between Carter and Emari Demercado, as James Conner, DeeJay Dallas and rookie Trey Benson are all basic locks for the roster.
He will need to either establish a set role as the primary backup to Conner or the third-down back to make the team.
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