Arizona Cardinals GM confirms 5th-year option for Paris Johnson

During the Arizona Cardinals pre-draft press conference Thursday that featured general manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Mike LaFleur, Ossenfort confirmed a report from earlier in the day that the team has exercised its fifth-year option on left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. The option is worth a guaranteed $19.072 million for 2027.

When first-round draft picks sign their rookie contracts, all are fully guaranteed for four years and include the fifth-year option that if exercised has to be done by May 1 this year.

The options have four levels based on multiple Pro Bowls, one Pro Bowl, playtime and basic along with where they were selected. Johnson’s is for playtime.

The sixth overall choice in the 2023 draft, the first four years of the contract are worth $28.052 million guaranteed that includes a $17.4 million signing bonus.

For the 2026 season, unless there is an extension agreed to, Johnson’s base salary is the league minimum of $1.145 million along with a roster bonus of $3.43 million that will be paid on the third day of training camp. His current salary-cap charge is $8.925 million, which is sixth-highest on the team.

Coincidentally, with camp starting earlier because of the team’s appearance in the Pro Football Hall of Game, he will receive that bonus earlier than normal.

In confirming the option decision, Ossenfort said, “Talked to him this morning; excited to do that. Paris is a great example of what we want our locker room to be about. I think he's still ascending as a player, so we were very excited to let him know we will pick that up. Paris is a guy we want around here for a long time. All I know is that we got him for that fifth year.”

Johnson is now eligible for a contract extension and it is expected that is high on the radar for the team to get something done before the start of the season. While Ossenfort didn’t discuss that aspect, he did refer to it when asked about retaining cap space in the offseason, saying, “We have players coming up that are due for extensions that we have to take into account.”

LaFleur knows he wants Johnson around for the future. He said “it’s awesome” that the fifth-year option was exercised and then added, “What's been cool about it (is) I had respect for him coming out, obviously then inheriting him here and seeing him ascend. I think the two coolest parts about him is one, I don't think he's even scratched the surface of how good this guy could be. Two, he's willing to work and he's a good dude.