As the Kyler Murray camp’s draft deadline for an extension approaches, the Cardinals continue to sit tight. The team has the Pro Bowl quarterback under contract through 2023, via the fifth-year option that will be exercised, and does not plan to let this saga devolve into an early divorce.
Steve Keim said Thursday a “zero percent” chance exists Murray will be traded, via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (on Twitter). This is fine by Murray, who soon added he wants to “win Super Bowls with the Cardinals” and indicated (via Twitter) he does not wish to be traded. While the situation could become contentious at some point, we do not appear to be there yet. Michael Bidwill soon tripled down here.
“Yeah, that’s not happening,” Bidwill said of a Murray trade (via the Arizona Republic’s Kent Somers, on Twitter). “There’s just too much outside noise that people listen to. We understand that’s just part of what goes on these days with social media. It’s just not the case.”
Murray’s camp has pushed for an extension ahead of the draft, after which other teams will make high-profile quarterback investments and close off potential trade routes. But Murray’s Thursday tweet downplays any interest the two-time Pro Bowler has of landing his eventual extension elsewhere. Keim added that quarterback extensions are often done after the draft (via Urban, on Twitter).
Recent extensions for quarterbacks seeking second contracts on normal trajectories — as opposed to Dak Prescott‘s re-up at the 2021 franchise tag deadline — have occurred after the draft. Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson, Carson Wentz and Jared Goff signed their initial extensions in the summer. The Cardinals may well be planning to follow suit. The team is not certain to extend Murray this year, potentially viewing the season as a proving ground for a talented player whose performance has tailed off in each of his Pro Bowl campaigns. Wentz and Goff’s extensions backfiring on the Eagles and Rams, respectively, may well impact the Cardinals’ timetable. But Murray’s camp will surely attempt to force the issue before training camp.
A report last week indicated the Cardinals had yet to make an offer, and Murray may be realizing no extension will be finalized before the draft. He is staying away from Arizona’s offseason program for the time being, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport noting this has been the plan for a bit now (Twitter link). Murray would face fines if he stayed away from the team’s minicamp or training camp, but skipping mandatory activities would be his top leverage play, as it would significantly affect the team’s preparation. But other teams have also received the message the Cards have no interest in trading Murray, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets.
Kyler lost some of his swagger last season and here he is pushing for more money. If he wants to be paid like a top QB he better put up the numbers that will lead to it…
Murray was ballin’ the 1st half of last season before injuries hit. Lets not pretend the whole season was bad.
Now, that playoff game, oof. But I expect him to come back strong this year.
He pulled some stunts late in the season and alienated some of his teammates. He needs to grow up…
key words in your comment “was” and “injuries”
I mean yeah, that’s why I included them. They are A. Facts and B. Central to both sides of the debate.
He was playing at MVP Level the first half of last year. Then he was injured. Then he wasn’t playing at MVP level.
One argument is that that 1st half magic was a fluke, is lost, and he is injury prone.
The other is that injuries are temporary, he is healthy now, and can and likely will recapture that MVP form since he has already shown capable.
So yes — key words indeed. Regardless of which side of the fence you sit.
“He is staying away from Arizona’s offseason program for the time being”. Actually, reports are that he WAS there, he was just standing behind an offensive lineman and you couldn’t see him.
I am a short guy .. and I still had to give that one a thumbs up. Funny and sadly, so true.
Played QB myself for a few years and if lineman don’t know how to create a near perfect pocket it’s hard to see the field even if you are an inch or two taller than almost everyone (I was at the time, but stopped growing). I cannot even fathom what it is like trying to see over guys 4-8 inches taller with a much larger wingspan.
Last year’s playoff game spoke volumes. Hard to look at that performance and see a Super Bowl win in his future.
Well, the Eagles were sniffing around
Well off to Plan B go for Baker Mayfield
From your mouth to gods ears
Let’s hope so
$40m for a whiner that can’t put together a full consistent 16 games? No thanks.
Steve Keim is in the bottom 5th of GM’s. He overpays JJ Watt and let’s Reddick and Chandler Jones walk. He drafts a player yearly then has them change positions. The organization isn’t good at talent evaluation or even having a direction as to where they are going. So many mistakes in the draft and running the organization. Then he brings in Klunksbury who should be an assistant coach at best. He was lucky with Bruce Arians but even Bruce had enough of it and left. Keim has never shown he could draft or run an organization correctly. Mike Bidwell I thought would be 1000 times better than he cheap skate father. Nope 2 peas in a pod there.
Pretty good assessment and the Bidwell’s are always willing to relocate once fans get tired of their act. Chicago, St.Louis, Arizona…where is the next stop on the tour?
Until they ditch that crappy taco tech coach and his offense, they’re not gonna win anything no matter who the QB is.
Well shoot…that’s too bad