After bouncing around with three different NFL teams to start his career, the Arizona Cardinals signed Hjalte Froholdt to a 2-year, $4.6 million contract during the 2023 offseason to replace Rodney Hudson as their starting center. At the time, signing Froholdt was risky because he had only started four games at center before joining the team. He would be replacing a three-time Pro Bowler in Hudson as well.
Froholdt did not disappoint in his first season with the Cardinals. He played 17 games and started 17 in 2023, with 23 pressures, 16 hurries, four hits, three sacks allowed, and a 64.1 PFF grade in 1,126 (99%) offensive snaps. He also posted a 61.1 pass block grade and a 67.4 run block grade per PFF.
The Arizona Cardinals center would have been a free agent in 2025
Hjalte Froholdt entered the final year of his contract. He initially had a base salary of $2.48 million and a cap hit of $3.785 million for 2024. Over The Cap had him as the 22nd-highest-paid center (APY) and the 14th-highest cap hit for 2024.
He got a raise.
The Arizona Cardinals announced massive news on Wednesday
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Cardinals signed Hjalte Froholdt to a 2-year, $12 million extension with $8 million guaranteed. Froholdt’s contract runs through 2026 and will be an unrestricted free agent in 2027. Head coach Jonathan Gannon praised the recently extended center earlier in camp.
“Personal character, football character, the type of teammate that he is, the work he puts into being a pro and a good player,” Gannon said earlier in camp.
“They all jumped on the table and said, ‘This guy is going to do that, all he needs to do is play,’ and that’s what Hjalte has done.”
NFL fans react to the news
too bad it never worked out in New England. Dude has put in the work to be where he is at now. Congrats to him.
— Bryan (@BGauvin23) August 21, 2024
Besides a couple rough games against Aaron Donald (who doesn’t have those?), he played really well last year and got better as the year went on. The AZ Oline was dominant in run protection.
— Kiran Kumar (@keyyrun0) August 21, 2024
guys got a sick name tbh
— JClyde (@JClyyde) August 21, 2024
This dude had a super strong second half of the year
— Barkley Super Bowl LIX MVP (0-0) (@BarkleysBurner_) August 21, 2024
Thanks for the info 🤝
— EverGrowArmyEGC (@EvergrowArmy_) August 21, 2024
