Offseason
On March 12, 2006, the Cardinals acquired former Colts RB Edgerrin James through free agency, by signing him to a four-year, $30 million contract.
The Cardinals then selected the 2004 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Matt Leinart with the 10th pick of the 2006 NFL Draft. Leinart played for the University of Southern California and won 1½ national championships with the team in 2003 and 2004.
Leinart missed the first two weeks of the 2006 Cardinals training camp (and the opening game of the preseason) due to prolonged contract negotiations, but on August 15, the Arizona Republic, KTAR radio and ESPN reported that Leinart agreed to a six-year contract that could earn him a maximum of $51 million, according to his agent, Tom Condon. The contract reportedly contains $14 million in guaranteed money, and likely involves "escalator" clauses that could increase Leinart's salary in the later years of the deal should he meet certain playing-time incentives.
Also in the 2006 draft, the Cardinals would select another USC alum, Guard Taitusi "Deuce" Latui in the 3rd round, followed by Georgia TE Leonard Pope, Michigan DT Gabriel Watson, Louisville LB Brandon Johnson, Virginia Tech DT Jonathan Lewis, and Brigham Young WR Todd Watkins. This as well as the dynamic duo that is Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald at WR could (eventually) make the Cardinals a serious threat in the NFC West.
Read more about this topic: 2006 Arizona Cardinals Season