Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is eligible for a contract extension, now that he has completed three NFL seasons. He is under contract for one more season and, as a former first-round draft pick, the Cardinals can exercise a fifth-year option that will keep him under contract through 2023. That option will pay him more than $25 million.
With Murray’s recent decision to scrub his social media accounts, it has many people wondering if he is unhappy with how things are going. It seems to be a common move by NFL players these days without actually coming out and saying anything publicly.
If, in fact, this is a reflection of contractual displeasure, it becomes tricky.
Because of how the NFL works, players feel a need to maximize their earnings as quickly as possible.
In three seasons, Murray has been Rookie of the Year and named a Pro Bowler twice.
He has improved and led the Cardinals to steady improvement, including a playoff appearance.
Of course he would want a new deal. Even pretty good starting quarterbacks make more than $30 million per year.
In 2022, he is due almost $11.4 million.
However, from the team’s side, 2022 gives them one final year of a low cap hit where they can add talent around him and try to go for a title before his contract numbers balloon. They arguably would be at a competitive disadvantage to extend him now.
Plus, the Cardinals already have salary cap issues. They are currently projected to begin the offseason over the cap by more than $800,000.
On the other hand, if Murray improves even more, ends the season strong and the Cardinals make a run through the playoffs, the price tag could increase the per-year average from $5-$10 million.
If Murray is all about winning, he should want to be able to have the most talented team around him.
And if he is great and reaches the top echelon of quarterbacks in the league, the Cardinals will gladly pay him probably even more money than he was seeking this offseason because his value would have increased.
Murray might not like it, but it is the best thing to do for the immediate future of the team. Taking advantage of the low cap hit in 2022 and then using the extension to lower the more than $25 million hit his fifth-year option will have in 2023, thus giving the Cardinals another year in their window to manipulate the cap with a relatively low quarterback cap hit.
The problem is failing to extend him now when he wants it could also hurt the relationship with their franchise quarterback. It isn’t something you want to do, as the quarterback position is the most important.
Chances are that any hard feelings would go away once the deal is done.
The Cardinals have been more than willing to give their young core players their high-paying second contract.
It might seem a little tense for the next few months until the season begins, but this will eventually get done and Murray will be the Cardinals’ quarterback for many years.
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