2 min read • March 11, 2022
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James Conner had arguably his healthiest season last year and finished tied second in rushing touchdowns with 15.
Now, the five-year veteran is set to hit free agency and should be in for a big payday.
He joined Arizona on a bargain one-year, $1.75 million contract after a down season in Pittsburgh.
Conner doesn't have any long-term injury concerns, but his NFL career almost didn't happen.
In 2015, while he was at the University of Pittsburgh, a doctor visit revealed Conner had Hodgkins lymphoma with tumors located around his heart.
Doctors reportedly told him he would have had a week to live if the issue wasn't found and treated.
Conner was declared cancer-free in 2016 and was eventually drafted in the third round in 2017.
As a rookie, he missed the final two games with an MCL sprain and finished the season with 32 carries for 144 yards.
From 2018-2020, he missed at least three games each season with relatively minor issues, but was elected to the Pro Bowl in 2018.
Last year, Conner missed just two games and was elected to the Pro Bowl again. He had 752 rushing yards, 15 rushing touchdowns, 375 receiving yards and 3 receiving touchdowns with the Cardinals in a dual-role alongside Chase Edmonds.
The soon-to-be 27 year old will enter next season fresh and should be due for a big payday with his next team.
Edmonds is also set to become an unrestricted free agent next week and the Cardinals may have to choose which one to keep.
If neither re-sign with the team, Arizona would be left with Eno Benjamin, Jonathan Ward and Jaylen Samuels.
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