Hayden Conner

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Cardinals secured solid value with Hayden Conner's four-year, $4.4M extension, locking up a reliable interior lineman at just $1.1M annually — a deal that earns a C+ CVI grade. At that salary range, Arizona is paying for a rotational guard with starting upside rather than betting on elite production, which aligns well with Conner's profile as a steady but unspectacular presence along the offensive line. The contract structure heavily favors the Cardinals with minimal guaranteed money at just $200K, giving them flexibility to move on without significant cap penalties if Conner doesn't develop or gets displaced by younger talent. For a team still building depth across their roster, this represents the type of shrewd roster management that allows you to retain functional players without breaking the budget. The Cardinals essentially bought four years of interior line insurance at backup prices, creating a low-risk foundation piece that won't constrain their ability to pursue bigger upgrades elsewhere.

Performance Analysis

Hayden Conner is a replacement-level guard at this stage of his career, and his D- performance grade reflects a debut season that has offered little reason for optimism heading into the 2026 campaign. Appearing in just 5 games as a 2025 sixth-round pick out of the draft's final rounds — 211th overall — Conner has had minimal opportunity to establish himself, but the limited sample has not produced any distinguishing moments either. The most telling data point is the absence of data itself: there are no standout statistical strengths to anchor a case for a larger role, which is exactly what you'd expect from a depth piece on a rookie-scale deal worth $1.1M annually. The Cardinals' offseason activity reinforces that framing — Arizona just signed Ka'ena Decambra at the same guard position, a move that signals the front office is actively exploring options rather than committing to Conner as a reliable starter. His mediaFraming tells the whole story: he exists outside the national conversation entirely, generating neither buzz nor concern, the kind of quiet anonymity that typically defines a player fighting for a roster spot rather than earning one. At 24 with one season of limited exposure, the door isn't completely closed, but Conner's path to relevance on this roster runs directly through whoever the Cardinals decide they actually want protecting their offensive line in 2026.