It is with a new contract that James Conner will face the Vikings this Sunday. ESPN announces that the Cardinals runner has signed a 2-year contract extension for $19 million.
Conner was expected to be free at the end of the season. He's making $4.2 million this season. It will therefore increase to an average of 9.5 million for the following two campaigns. Enough to make him the 7th highest paid runner in the league.
He ranks far from Christian McCaffrey ($19M/season), Jonathan Taylor ($14M) or Saquon Barkley ($12.5M). But ahead of David Montgomery ($9.1M) or, more surprisingly, Derrick Henry's 9 million this year in Baltimore.
James Conner, man in the shadows
This season, James Conner has already rushed for 705 yards, with four outings over 100 yards. He also scored 5 touchdowns. He is one of the core men of the Arizona offense. When he's good, everything's good.
Arriving in 2021 in Phoenix, he gained momentum, reaching an average of 5 yards per carry last season, his first with more than 1,000 yards in his career. A level that he should reach again this year. Enough to justify his contract extension.
