After a tenuous offseason in which he first became eligible for an extension, Kyler Murray is now on the verge of a lucrative second contract. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Cardinals are “working to close a monster extension” with the former No. 1 pick.
Rapoport adds that the deal will make Murray “one of the NFL’s highest-paid players,” and that is has now been finalized (Twitter link). The team has corroborated (via Twitter) that the contract is in place. The two sides have been negotiating “for weeks” to hammer out terms, and now the process has reached the finish line. The deal comprises a five-year extension, meaning that Murray (who has two years remaining on his rookie contract) will remain under contract with Arizona through 2028. 
Regarding financial details, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that the pact has a total value of $230.5MM, adding that the contract carries $160MM in guaranteed money. At a annual average value of $46.1MM-per-year, this deal makes Murray the NFL’s second highest-paid QB, behind Aaron Rodgers. It also ranks second in terms of guaranteed compensation, trailing only the historic $230MM deal the Browns gave Deshaun Watson, ever dollar of which is assured. Rapoport’s colleague Tom Pelissero adds that Murray will make $69MM over the first two years of the extension, and $106.15MM by year three (Twitter link).
Murray, 24, has been a full-time starter immediately since entering the NFL in 2019. After winning Rookie of the Year honors, he has been named a Pro Bowler in each of the past two seasons. That made a long-term commitment seem inevitable, but tensions have run high between the player and club leading up to this deal.
Back in February, there were reports of acrimony as the window for an extension to be signed was soon to be opened. Weeks later, Murray’s agent issued, in essence, an ultimatum to the team detailing his contributions to the franchise, along with a blueprint for an extension. Things looked bleak in terms of the relationship between the two sides at that point, but the situation steadily progressed as the offseason moved closer to the summer, when a deal of this magnitude was always more likely to be signed.
In June, it came out that an extension being finalized ahead of training camp was quite likely. Now, the Cardinals have their franchise centerpiece in place for the long-term future. Questions about his leadership will no doubt remain, and in fact be amplified, by his rank amongst the highest-paid players in the league. Delivering postseason success will likewise become an even greater expectation with this deal in place. Meanwhile, this contract shows the close link between the value of Watson’s extension and the financial terms Murray ended up agreeing to. It will be worth watching if any Lamar Jackson deal ends up taking on a similar form.
What is this an extension for ants?
How can we expect Kyler to learn how to read defenses if he can’t even fit into the building?
I call it the Kyler Murray school for QBs that can’t read defenses good but also want to do other things good, too.
He teaches us that there’s more to life than being really, really short.
Hahahahaha. Way to sink the franchise, Mr. Kiem.
bad GM, HC & QB. Smart thinking to extend all 3!
It’s fair to question if Kyler is worthy of this extension, but you lose all credibility when you call him a “bad” QB. “Bad” implies bottom ten, at best. Do you genuinely think that?
He’s a 500 QB over three years.
5-10
8-8
11-6
And bad collapses the last two seasons. Yes its fair to say he’s average at best.
The Bidwell’s have decades of bad decisions running the Cards. Why would this be any different?
1) “Average” and “bad” are not synonyms.
2) You used team record to “prove” he’s a bad QB. Do you realize how many variables other than QB play go into team record? Also, notice how even that statistic has steadily improved over the years.
3) Your logic is that because ownership has historically made bad moves, this one must also automatically be terrible, regardless of the terms. That’s irrational.
I am by no means proclaiming this extension will work out. Murray has some warts and needs to improve as a leader. However, to deny his talent and simply identify him as “bad” is ludicrous IMO
Always this silliness. ‘It’s a team sport, it’s the coaches, it’s everything’ but the QB because you like him. He’s average & immature.
Since I’ve really followed the NFL, late 1970’s. Name 1 thing the Bidwell’s have done well, drafting Larry Fitzgerald? That’s about it.
I just said Murray has flaws he needs to improve upon. If you’re too immature to acknowledge that and need to make this a scarecrow argument, so be it.
IDC if Bidwell sucks. That wasn’t my argument. My argument was, “Murray isn’t bad.” Unless your definition of bad is synonymous with average, you have already contradicted yourself
He’s an average QB. So is Baker, S Darnold, Rosen and many other highly drafted QB’s.
Everyone that comments on this site, laughed about the GM & HC extensions this offseason. Why should this be any different?
Well, for one thing, the owner, GM, and QB of a team are not the same person. Believe it or not, it’s possible for management to suck and a team’s signal caller to not (Ex: Lions of the 2010s).
And we’ve had this conversation before: you can’t just toss any non-elite quarterback into an “average” category. Surely you recognize the difference between Josh Rosen, who can hardly keep himself on a practice squad, and Kyler, who was top ten this past season in completion percentage, Y/A, QBR, etc. among qualified passers
You’re using the Lions as an example? When was their last playoff win 1990? Great choice!
Vegas puts the Cards at 16th best to win the SB. 16 out of 32. Can’t get more average than that.
No offense, but do you actually read the entire comment, or just pick and choose? I used the Lions as an example of a team with a rock solid QB in Stafford in spite of previously horrendous management.
Of course, by your standards, I’m sure Stafford is somehow as “bad” as David Blough
Yes I read the comments and I disagree them. Read Richard Sherman’s comment on Matt.
I’m gonna talk about it on the podcast but the HOF bar is incredibly low now. Like a participation trophy. No all decade team. No All pro. No MVP. 1 Pro bowl. Not even MVP of the SB. Never considered the best in any year he played. At least M. Ryan has an MVP
What are you even talking about? I didn’t say anything about Stafford being in the HOF. This thread has deviated from the original point and become a waste of my time
You just like to interject on peoples thread’s and demand they believe what you say. Murray & the Cards will hover around 500 this year. Every sports writer is in agreement with that. Vegas is also in agreement with that.
Most pencil Rams, SF, Cards, & Seattle.
Being the 2nd highest paid QB, you shouldn’t be third in your division.
@wagner13… “Ludacris”, yeah okay!
In his 3 years in the NFL, Kyler Murray:
6th-most fumbles
5th-most sacks taken
9th-most turnovers
13th in QBR
13th in comp pct
19th in INT pct
19th in passer rating
20th in TD pct
20th in TD/INT ratio
20th in yds/att
23rd in win pct
Thank you!
Nice cherry-picking; those stats are weighted down due to his rookie season, when he was thrown into the fire on a terrible team. Notice how all of those stats have improved as Murray has gained experience and the surrounding team has acquired more talent. We already established he was top ten in completion percentage, Y/A, passer rating, and even win percentage this past season, so that should probably indicate an upward trend.
If you need any idea as to how ridiculous that is, look at Joe Burrow’s rookie season: he was bottom ten in QBR, Y/A, and sacks taken. Would any reasonable person hold that against him? Of course not. Same thing could have been said about Peyton Manning
And for the last time: I am not insisting Murray is elite or worthy of this contract. I am suggesting he isn’t “bad.” Such a description should be left for the Darnolds and Trubiskys of the league. I really didn’t think this would be such a controversial take, but I guess I was wrong
From AZ Sports website: Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray’s first career playoff game ended in a 34-11 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round on Monday night at SoFi Stadium.
That caps off a season in which the Cardinals started out 7-0 — including being 10-2 after Week 13 — only to finish the season 1-4 and limp into the playoffs for the first time since 2015 at 11-6.
Real growth shown there.
Doofus, it is literally growth. 5-10-1 his first year, 8-8 his second, 9-5 his third (Cards were 11-6 overall).
I’m not sure what point you think you’re making here, but you are 100% wrong if you’re insisting that Murray is bad. And I have to question if you even know what a football is if you’re lumping him and Baker in with Darnold and Rosen. Shocking lack of knowledge.
lol comparing Murray with Burrow/Manning lol Murray is closer to bad than good ( not just football skills, talking about the whole package). He will be out of the league in 5 yrs tops. I am not sure if he even really wants to play football, He chose football over baseball for the money. he just wanted to get paid.
I never directly compared Murray’s current talent level to that of Burrow’s or Manning’s; I mentioned that the statistics of each of the following players were weighted down by their respective rookie seasons. Please read my comment in full instead of creating polarizing talking points.
Major cherry-picking
@Arty
So, um, you just pointed out in your argument how the Cards have consistently improved by 3 wins each season… So please explain to me how they’re “bad”?
I agree, pissing your franchise QB off is the way to go!
He’s not a franchise QB, just a QB.
And that’s your opinion. ARI does not agree with you, and I think that is the correct choice.
Not just my opinion, Vegas places them at 16th to win the SB this year. Anything else?
Guess this means Lamar will get 4/$256 then, Jalen Hurts 5/$267, and Justin Fields 6/$300, Joe Burrows and Herbert about 8/$340. Oh, and the Vikings will finally give Kirk Cousins true financial security with a 12 year, $784 million dollar deal, possibly as early as tomorrow.
Everyone acting like players getting paid close to their value is some horrific crime.
Yes, because Kirk Cousins is clearly worth $784 million.
this can only end well
Great news for the nearly dozen better QBs! Murray is in the better half of QBs but not the player Id want my team saddled with…
Dude’s a darn good QB. Showing him this commitment and getting a better coach should work wonders. I guess 1/2 isn’t all that bad though?
What’s the alternative? You might say pay him less, but QB’s are always overpaid. That’s nothing new.
Were they supposed to sign somebody else?
Trade for Jimmy G or resign Josh Rosen for some locker room shenanigans were the alternatives.
Not a bad call, pretty fair assessment.
No they should have waited to pay him. they still had control of him for the next 4 yrs ( 2 more on rookie deal, and if they chose, franchise tag 2 yrs) they paid him 2 yrs EARLY and he hasnt even won a playoff game?! He hasnt done squat! they gave into the crybaby and he got his way.
That’s a lot for someone’s who average
This deal makes Murray the NFL’s most over-paid QB.
Bet he’s happy he choose football over MLB now
Who was the Card’s competition in doing this deal now? Kyler being unhappy? It’s comical. Look at his body language during games and tell me he is EVER happy. Last game, 19/34 for 137 and 2 picks. When a team rushes him correctly, it’s a hard game for Murrary.
Remembering all of those bitter baseball fans who said Murray was making the biggest mistake of his life by leaving the A’s for the NFL.
Ooops times 230 million.
This definitely oversimplification but haven’t some of the greatest/HOF QBs been drafted far lower and never made anything close to this much (in an Apples to Apples comparison: cost of living/inflation in 1980s to same in 2020s)
not that I’m arguing against the obvious:
he didn’t create the salary market but isn’t going to shy away from it … who would?
I forgot what I was going to say about the Murray extension but think we need to get arty! and wagner13 on the Bell/Peterson undercard.
The dude hates football – except for the money. Here’s hoping the Cards stink for the duration of this foolish contract.
totally agree, I dont think he even wants to play football, just wanted the check, hence his crying and whining 2 yrs early.