Cards Wire has learned the details of the two-year contract extension Arizona Cardinals center Hjalte Froholdt signed on Aug. 21 and it turns out the $12 million reported value is new money. The $8 million reported that is guaranteed is actually $7.25 million fully guaranteed at signing.
Froholdt’s previous two-year deal that he signed in March, 2023, included a $2.48 million base salary for the 2024 season and a maximum total of $255,000 in per-game active ($15,000 each) roster bonuses. There was no guaranteed money this year although once on the opening-day roster, the salary would have become guaranteed.
The three years of the current contract is now worth $14.745 million. The $7.25 million of full guarantees include a $4 million signing bonus, $2 million base guaranteed this year and $1.25 million of the $2.5 million base salary in 2025.
Another $750,000 of the 2025 salary is guaranteed for injury only at signing, but becomes fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2025 league year, which is currently scheduled to be March 16.
His 2024 compensation still includes the per-game roster bonuses, which are also in place for 2025 and 2026. Froholdt receives a nominal $10,080 workout bonus for the already completed offseason program and there are $100,000 workout bonuses in both 2025 and 2026.
Just like the two-year contract extension signed in early August by linebacker Zaven Collins, there is no guaranteed money in 2026. Froholdt’s salary for that season is $4.77 million and there is also a $500,000 roster bonus believed to be due early in the league year.
Also like Collins, if Froholdt’s play continues to ascend, it is probable there will be another extension in 2026.
As for the salary cap, the charge this year is now $4.148 million, slightly higher than the previous hit of $3.785 million. In 2025, the cap charge is $4.188 million and jumps to $6.958 million in 2026, obviously assuming he is on the roster and the $500,000 roster bonus is paid.
The prorated cap for the new signing bonus is $1.333 million each year and this year the remaining $550,000 from his 2023 singing bonus also counts against the cap for a total of $1.883 million.
In the unlikely event that the Cardinals elect to move on from Froholdt in 2025, the dead charge against the cap would be $3.92 million if it occurred on or before or $2.58 million if after June 1 with the remainder hitting the cap in 2025. If the team moves on without him in 2026, the dead money would be a mere $1.333 million.
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