Adrian Wilson Gets What He Deserves

With one season left on his contract, the Arizona Cardinals gave safety Adrian Wilson a new five-year, $37 million deal today. The contract includes $18.5 million in guaranteed money and Adrian will earn $22.5 million (plus incentives) over the first three years.

Adrian Wilson, Arizona Cardinals / Photo: Newscom

Adrian was in a reflective mood amidst the news:

“Every time I step on the field at the stadium, I look up at the names on the Ring of Honor and I always say, ‘One day, I want my number up there.’ I want my number up there next to Aeneas (Williams). I want my number next to Pat (Tillman). It’s about making a legacy here ….. Every line sweep, every stroke of the pen when you sign your name, you think of the players that have been here and left, or the opportunities you left on the field, some of the bad games you have been in, Sun Devil Stadium, whatever you can name, I’ve thought about it. It’s been a long time, and I think I’ve witnessed more than a lot of players have just from the standpoint of building a team.”

This is true. Adrian Wilson has been through the thick and thin as a member of the Arizona Cardinals for the past eight years. He’s the team’s longest tenured player. And now he can plan on spending the remainder of his career in AZ.

As one of the best safeties in the National Football League (and somehow still one of the league’s best kept secrets), Adrian is now paid like one of the best—surpassing Troy Polamalu’s most recent deal ($33 million, $15.375 million guaranteed) and very nearly equaling Bob Sanders’ contract (five years, $37.5 million, $19 million guaranteed).

Source: AZCardinals.com