Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Howard Balzer

Contract details for CB Max Melton, the Cardinals’ 2nd-round picks

The Arizona Cardinals selected 12 players in the draft nearly three weeks ago and of the 257 total picked in the three-day event, through Tuesday 162 have already officially signed contracts submitted to the league. That leaves only 95 unsigned.

The Cardinals have now signed eight of their 12 picks after announcing deals Tuesday with cornerback Max Melton (second round, No. 43 overall) and guard Isaiah Adams (third round, No. 71 overall).

Card Wire has learned the four-year contract terms for Melton, but the same-length contract for Adams is not available yet.

An offer for Cardinals fans

For the best local Phoenix news, sports, entertainment and culture coverage, subscribe to azcentral.

Melton’s contract is worth $8,888,308 that has $6,931,266 guaranteed, including a $3,284,224 signing bonus.

The base salaries are $795,000 this year; $1,199,014 in 2025; $1,603,028 in 2026 and $2,007,042 in 2027. The first three years of base salaries are fully guaranteed, while $50,000 is guaranteed in 2027.

If Melton is still on the team that year, his salary will likely increase to whatever the lowest tender is for restricted free agents. This year, that figure is $2.985 million.

There are no split salaries in the contract, so Melton will receive his entire base salary if he winds up on injured reserve.

The salary cap charge this year for Melton is $1,616,056. That results in an immediate net cap of about $600,000 because his signing pushes a contract worth around $1 million in cap space out of the top 51.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

 

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.