Steve Keim says that Larry Fitzgerald is still deciding about his future, and that’s OK with the Arizona Cardinals’ general manager.

In a news conference on Wednesday, Keim said the Arizona wide receiver does “not necessarily” need to let the team know his plans by March 17, the start of NFL free agency. Keim said that they have been in frequent communication, but he is also giving Fitzgerald space as he mulls whether he will retire or come back for an 18th season. 

The past two years, Fitzgerald decided well before the start of free agency. Keim is not reading into the longer process. 

“Knowing him, he’s probably just trying to make me sweat,” Keim said. “It’s a private thing for a player, and we’ve always given Larry his space. And he’s taken his time, which, there’s nobody that deserves that more than him.”

Free agency Keim time

Keim was ecstatic about adding defensive end J.J. Watt to the roster, and he also noted that it gives the team a bit more of a road map heading into free agency. With Watt locked in, Keim can now tend to the rest of the roster with a little more certainty about what the 2021 Cardinals are shaping up to be. Keim spoke highly of the players currently on the team, while knowing that they won’t all suit up in State Farm Stadium this fall. 

“We have 28 pending free agents of our own, and there are a number of them that we would like to have back,” Keim said. “Just doing the cost of business and the way things work, some of those players will be able to return. But really it depends on what the market is going to present, and we don’t really understand with the down cap.”

Notable scheduled free agents on the defense include Haason Reddick, Markus Golden and Patrick Peterson. Watt makes the pass rush a less urgent area to tend to, and could also sway Peterson. But money is also a factor. Keim said they’re still waiting on a hard number from the league for the salary cap, which will have a notable impact on next steps. 

“If it goes up $4 or $5 million, that makes a huge difference, and there could be a number of players that you can slot in those spots,” he said. “We’ll continue to be active, we want to sign, again, a number of our own players, and there will be some players in free agency we’ll try to sign as well.”

Keim says that the Cardinals plan to still be aggressive, and he does not feel that Watt’s contract will prohibit that.

“I don’t feel like we’re drastically limited,” Keim said. “We have some flexibility moving forward, and that’s why we structured the contract the way we did and in the way that we’ve done a number of other things financially.” 

The aggressive outlook stems in part from the fact that quarterback Kyler Murray is still on a rookie contract. 

“We have a window in time where we can do some different things and be flexible, yet at the same time, we have to be smart with it,” he said. “I have to look at the future moving forward in the next three years and always take a different view than a lot of people do.” 

Internal promotions

In mid-February, the Cardinals announced a number of promotions in the team’s player personnel and football operations departments. Among those were former players Quentin Harris, promoted to Vice President of Player Personnel, and Adrian Wilson, promoted to Vice President of Pro Personnel. Keim appreciates the homegrown aspect, both from an individual standpoint, but also in the benefits he sees for the organization. 

“It’s always fun for me and proud moments to be able to promote from within,” Keim said. “I’ve had a front seat to see both of those guys develop and grow within the organization, and I can’t say enough good things about both of those men. … 

“So, it continues to get better and better, and as these gentlemen grow and develop within the system, I think it’s going to continue to take off, and do a better job in the years to come.”

Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 480-356-6407. Follow her on Twitter @kfitz134.

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