The acrimony between Kyler Murray and the Cardinals appears long in the rear-view mirror. Arizona’s franchise quarterback may be moving toward an extension.
Mentioned months ago as eyeing a deal ahead of training camp, Murray may get his wish. Conversations between the Cardinals and Murray’s camp are going smoothly, according to ESPN.com’s Jeff Darlington, who calls an extension ahead of training camp a “very reasonable likelihood” (on Twitter).
Both Michael Bidwill and GM Steve Keim targeted the late-summer window as the time when a Murray extension would most likely happen. Kliff Kingsbury, extended along with Keim this offseason, stumped for a Murray deal as well. This process has been back on track for months. After reports of strife between Murray and the Cardinals and a report before the draft indicating the team had not yet made an offer, Murray said he was not seeking a trade and subsequently reported to OTAs and minicamp. That was interpreted as a sign he and the team were back on the same page. It appears that interpretation was correct.
The Cards have Murray signed for two more years, via a $29.7MM fifth-year option exercised in May, but first-round QBs usually sign their first extensions ahead of their third seasons. Since the 2011 CBA reshaped rookie salaries and timetables, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Deshaun Watson, Jared Goff, Carson Wentz and Ryan Tannehill (with the Dolphins) proceeded on that course. Lamar Jackson did not, making the Murray negotiations of particular relevance to the Ravens QB.
Murray and Jackson may be the first quarterbacks to go through with extensions in the aftermath of Watson’s fully guaranteed Browns deal; thus, the structures of each extension-eligible passer’s accord could be seminal moments for the QB market. With Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert extension-eligible next year, how the Cardinals’ Murray deal looks will be important for the Bengals and Chargers’ plans.
But Murray, 25 in August, should be expected to land a deal near or beyond the $45MM-per-year point. Four passers are signed for at least $43MM AAV. He represents the Cards’ first homegrown QB with superstar potential since the franchise’s 1988 relocation. Each of the above-referenced QB extensions ran for at least four years, with Allen’s at six and Mahomes’ at 10. With Murray already signed through 2023, it should be expected his next Cards accord will run into the late 2020s. While Murray’s place in the current QB landscape is not yet known, Arizona appears ready to find out while paying him top-tier money.
They might as well extend him. The already did so with the GM & HC. Now, I don’t think those 3 are winning titles anytime soon. But to save face, they’ll over pay Murray.
The Bidwell’s are overlooked as inept owners.
They aren’t great owners but I give them credit for knowing when to cut their losses. It didn’t workout in Chicago so they left for St.Louis. Didn’t workout in St.Louis so they left for Phoenix. If they don’t win something soon the next stop may be Europe.
joining Shad!
It’s the only path forward for them. They’ve drafted poorly, they’ve over-invested in less valuable positions, and while Joseph has done good work, the defense is lacking talent. Murray may not ever be elite even in a better situation, but the NFC is weaker and when things are clicking with him, they can at least contend for a playoff spot. They desperately need a change of GM, but letting Murray go won’t solve that.
I’d argue that Murray is already elite. He’s not TB12 or AaRod, but he’s still elite.
I guess it depends on your definition of elite. Like I’d say he’s comfortably top ten, but I don’t know if he’ll ever be comfortably top five.
He’s popcorn elite, not Hall of Famer elite, i.e., he’s very entertaining but he won’t accomplish anything in the game.
He made the playoffs last year despite a weak supporting cast and sharing a division with the two conference finalists.
Great dual threat but they’ve gone above and beyond getting him weapons and he’s never thrown for over 4K
If he hadn’t missed 3 games last season he would have hit that mark quite easily despite missing Hopkins for half the season.
I also don’t think total passing yards is the best metric for determining QB efficacy. Otherwise, Jameis’ 2019 season is a top ten best in NFL history
Above and beyond? Hopkins and what? Green and Ertz well past their prime, as was Fitz for all their overlap. Kirk has merely been OK. Rondale is interesting, but that’s it for now. And the line is dicey.