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Fitzgerald Agrees To New 2-Year Deal; Cards Get Cap Space
That didn't take long. ... Less than a week after general manager Steve Keim said the Cardinals would be in constant contact with Larry Fitzgerald in order to work out a new contract and gain some valuable cap space heading into free agency, the two sides completed their mission today.

Fitzgerald is the Cardinals' all-time leading receiver and perhaps the most popular player in franchise history. That said, his relevance to fantasy football owners has diminished in recent seasons as his production has declined. He will turn 32 before the start of the season.

Still, as NFL.com's Dan Hanzus suggested, even though Fitzgerald might not be the player he once was, he remains productive and one of the leaders of Bruce Arians' team. Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd and second-year receiver John Brown form a potent group for Carson Palmer, who has a chance to return from ACL surgery by OTAs.

Keim confirmed at the NFL Scouting Combine that the deal is "finished."

Per Keim, it's essentially a two-year arrangement. According to multiple reports, the new deal is worth $11 million per year over the next two seasons and saves the Cards $13 million in the first season.

"The two biggest pulls for us were pretty simple," Keim explained. "No. 1 to compensate Larry for the type of player, the type of talent he is and the leader that he is. And then essentially clearing up enough salary cap space for us moving forward to be able to be aggressive and proactive when free agency starts."

Fitzgerald was due $16 million in salary next season under his old deal.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported last week that the Cardinals were looking for relief on the cap hit tied to Fitzgerald's contract, a steep $23 million allotment that would severely limit what they can do in free agency. That won't be the case now.