Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort Won’t Guarantee Michael Wilson Extension Gets Done
The Arizona Cardinals are grinding through training camp to get ready for the 2026 season. But one contract situation is hanging over the building: the future of wide receiver Michael Wilson.
Wilson has turned into one of the most reliable pass catchers in this offense. With a new coaching staff in place under Mike LaFleur, there’s a real chance this team takes a step forward — and Wilson could be a huge part of it. The problem is timing. He’s set to hit free agency after this season, and Arizona hasn’t locked him up yet.
General manager Monti Ossenfort was asked directly whether a new deal was coming soon. His answer wasn’t exactly a promise.
“He’s a guy we want around here a long time,” Ossenfort said, via team beat reporter Darren Urban. “Expect? That’s a tough word. Our interest is in keeping him here.”
That’s a GM saying the right things without committing to a timeline. Camp is loud and everyone’s got somewhere to be, but that particular non-answer landed with a thud among Cardinals fans hoping for clarity before the regular season.
Wilson’s Breakout Case for a Payday
Wilson earned this conversation. He caught 78 passes for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025, all career highs, and became the first 1,000-yard season of his three-year career. He’s also on record saying contract talks were “going great” back in June, so this isn’t a situation where the two sides aren’t speaking. It’s a situation where nothing’s been signed yet, and the season is bearing down fast.
Wilson formed a serious one-two punch with tight end Trey McBride last year, who set the all-time NFL record for receptions by a tight end in a season. According to ClutchPoints, McBride broke Zach Ertz’s mark of 116 catches during a December win, finishing the year with 126 receptions, 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns. That’s the kind of receiving corps a team builds an offense around — and Arizona has real motivation to keep both pieces on the roster long-term.
| Player | 2025 Rec | 2025 Yards | 2025 TDs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Wilson | 78 | 1,006 | 7 |
| Trey McBride | 126 | 1,239 | 11 |
New Faces Around Him
This isn’t the same offense Wilson broke out in. Kendrick Bourne joined the receiver room this spring to add depth. Arizona also used the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, a move meant to build a dynamic ground game around quarterback Jacoby Brissett. More weapons usually means a more balanced attack, but it can also mean fewer targets to go around — which only raises the stakes on getting Wilson’s next contract right before it becomes a distraction.
Analysts around the league have pointed out that Wilson’s price tag is climbing fast given his target share and production last season, which puts real pressure on Arizona to move before final numbers get more expensive.
Why This Matters Now
Take Wilson off the field and Arizona’s passing game loses a proven, versatile weapon heading into a season where the front office is already leaning on a rebuilt receiver room and a rookie back to carry weight. Ossenfort’s comments suggest the front office knows exactly what it has in Wilson. They just haven’t put a signature on it.
Whether Arizona gets a deal done with the 26-year-old before Week 1 remains to be seen. For now, it’s a storyline worth tracking as camp rolls on.
