The Arizona Cardinals have announced the return of wide receiver Greg Dortch on a one-year tender worth $3.3 million. This marks his fifth season with the team after he played all 17 games last season, recording 37 receptions for 342 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. Additionally, Dortch contributed with five carries for 31 yards and held the team lead in punt returns with 202 yards. With a total of 116 receptions for 1,104 yards in 54 games with Arizona, he will rejoin a wide receiver corps that includes promising talents like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson, enhancing the unit's depth ahead of the NFL draft.

The Arizona Cardinals have had a substantial number of third-round picks over the last decade, with 2024 adding to their roster. Players like Trey Benson and Tip Reiman are expected to contribute significantly moving forward. The recent haul has shown a mix of hits and misses; Garrett Williams and Michael Wilson have emerged as promising talents, while others like Chad Williams faltered. Zach Allen, once a Cardinal, made an impression as a second-team All-Pro with the Denver Broncos. Currently, the Cardinals are banking on new additions like Benson and Wilson to elevate their game in the upcoming seasons.

Despite common analyses highlighting wide receiver as a crucial need for the Arizona Cardinals ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, quarterback Kyler Murray disagrees. He expressed confidence in his current receiving corps, including Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson. Murray believes Wilson can reach 1,000 yards if given the opportunity and remains healthy, emphasizing the importance of their on-field connection. While experts suggest adding another weapon at receiver, Murray is content with the existing talent, indicating trust in their abilities to perform effectively in the upcoming season.

The Arizona Cardinals are benefiting from a performance-based pay system that rewards players based on their contributions on the field. Cornerback Star Thomas V leads the team with a substantial bonus of $797,669.80, attributed to his 77.3% snap count last season. Despite none of their players breaking into the NFL's top 25 for performance pay, several Cardinals enjoyed significant payouts. The team's total performance-based pay this year amounted to $14.128 million, part of a broader league pool of $452.096 million since the program's inception in 2002.

Notably, players with lower salaries and higher playing time percentages gleaned the most from this system. Alongside Thomas, wide receiver Michael Wilson and cornerback Garrett Williams also received hefty bonuses, highlighting the importance of snap counts in determining eligibility for these payouts. The performance pay structure underscores the value placed on player contributions that go beyond just base salaries, providing motivation for athletes to perform at their best week after week.