Story byJess Root, Cardinals WireTue, March 3, 2026 at 11:58 AM UTC·1 min readThe Arizona Cardinals have a few restricted free agents they must make decisions on soon. They must decide whether or not to use one of the restricted free agent tenders. Kicker Chad Ryland, who has been the Cardinals' kicker for the last year and a half, is one of those players. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAccording to ESPN's Josh Weinfuss, the Cardinals are not expected to tender Ryland. The lowest tender, right of first refusal, would pay Ryland more than $3.5 million in 2026. Ryland could still negotiate with other teams and sign an offer sheet, but the Cardinals would have the ability to match the offer. A second-round tender would pay Ryland nearly $5.8 million and a first-round tender would pay him over $8.0 million, and the Cardinals would gain a second or first-round pick from a team should a team sign him to an offer sheet and the Cardinals decline to match the offer. Ryland, after looking fantastic in 2024, coming out the gates with three game-winning kicks, was not as consistent in 2025.
