Arizona Cardinals sign LB Karson Sharar

The Cardinals' signing of Karson Sharar earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI), reflecting a low-cost depth move that avoids excess but offers minimal upside in a rebuilding landscape. At $1.18M AAV on a four-year, $4.7M total deal, this is replacement-level linebacker pricing—the kind of contract front offices deploy to fill roster spots without meaningful cap strain or long-term commitment risk. Sharar lands as a depth piece in Arizona's defensive rebuild, carrying minimal guaranteed money exposure and the flexibility to be shed if younger or more productive options emerge. The value equation is straightforward: the Cardinals are paying a modest premium for positional depth rather than franchise-caliber production, which is exactly what the price point reflects. There's no injury risk baked into the contract length, and the modest AAV ensures this signing won't handcuff cap flexibility as the organization continues to retool. For a team at 3-14 with nine consecutive losses to close last season, this is the kind of non-descript acquisition that fits a squad prioritizing financial runway and roster churn over immediate competitive impact.