Michael Wilson is coming off a breakout season as one of the few bright spots on the 2025 Arizona Cardinals. Selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Stanford product looked like a solid yet unspectacular starter throughout his first two years in the league. However, that quickly changed in Year 3, as he had a breakout season playing alongside Jacoby Brissett. With Kyler Murray injured and eventually benched, Wilson stepped up as the top receiver in the offense. Starting in 13 games while appearing in all 17, the wideout finished the campaign with 78 receptions for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns. By comparison, his previous high marks were 47 receptions, 565 yards, and four touchdowns.
Now entering the final year of his rookie contract, Michael Wilson is eligible for an extension and has the potential to earn a sizable pay grade. The Arizona Cardinals have yet to sign their homegrown talent to a new deal, but Wilson isn’t worried about when he might cash in. During a recent interview, the Stanford product said he’s not focused on the business side of things.
“Truthfully, that whole situation isn’t going to dictate my offseason,” Wilson said, via Darren Urban of the team’s website. “That’s not something that I want to show up to the building with it on my mind. I don’t want that to affect how I show up every single day because ultimately that stuff is going to take care of itself.”
Michael Wilson Isn’t Worried About Impending Contract Extension
While his strong 2025 ensured he will receive a solid payday when he receives his next contract, Michael Wilson is far from the only big-name receiver due for a new contract. As of this posting, Puka Nacua, George Pickens, Drake London, and Chris Olave are all set to reach the open market in a few months, and all of those players have longer track records than the Cardinals’ wideout.
The 2026 season will likely go a long way in seeing what the market holds for Michael Wilson. If he cannot replicate his success with a new coaching staff and (potentially) a new quarterback, then he probably won’t receive that much interest on the open market. However, if he has another 1,000-yard season, then teams could view him as a legitimate WR1, or a high-end WR2. In this reality, he could earn a contract eclipsing the four-year, $68 million deal Romeo Doubs signed with the New England Patriots.
Of course, the NFL is a supply and demand economy, and Michael Wilson’s ultimate earnings will likely depend on which receivers make it to the open market. If Nacua, Pickens, London, and Olave all re-sign with their respective teams before free agency, then Wilson could earn a substantial contract as the best receiver on the market. Ultimately, only time will tell what happens to the Stanford product.
The Wild Card
The elephant in the room here is former fourth-overall pick Marvin Harrison Jr. Widely considered to be a generational prospect and the first non-quarterback selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Ohio State product has not played up to his pre-draft billing. While he hasn’t been bad by any stretch of the imagination, he hasn’t been particularly good either. He had some moments as a rookie, but his 41-catch, 608-yard 2025 season left a lot to be desired.
Tight end Trey McBride is more than capable of being the top option in this passing attack, but someone must step up as the second-best target. Michael Wilson was that player last year, and he will likely earn an extension if he can do it again. However, if the new coaching staff finds a way for Harrison to reach his potential, then they might be comfortable letting Wilson walk for greener pastures.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – Imagn Images
