NFL Network national insider Ian Rapoport had a major update regarding the Arizona Cardinals and their starting quarterback, Kyler Murray.
The #AZCardinals and two-time Pro Bowl QB Kyler Murray are working to close a monster extension that will make Murray one of the NFL’s highest-paid players, sources tell me and @TomPelissero.
After an offseason of drama, Murray could be locked in as AZ’s QB for years to come.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 21, 2022
Source: The #AZCardinals and QB Kyler Murray have now agreed to terms on his extension. 💰
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 21, 2022
After a messy start to the contract negotiations, both sides finally agreed to terms.
It’s a 5-year extension worth $230.5M with $160M in guarantees. https://t.co/22M8MTlxFc
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 21, 2022
Murray signed a five-year, $230.5 million extension with the team that selected him first overall in the 2019 NFL Draft.
But unlike Deshaun Watson‘s contract with the Cleveland Browns which has a comparable value, Murray gets only $160 million in guaranteed money.
It’s still a huge sum for any player for that matter and it proved that Murray’s camp had the leverage after all.
The rocky negotiations started when Murray’s camp, through agent Erik Burkhardt, published a lengthy post that highlighted their desire to get a contract extension after Murray’s third NFL season.
It’s an important timing for them because other top quarterbacks like Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes received their hefty extensions after year three.
Murray and Burkhardt went on to reason that he was not eager to play in 2022 without an extension in place.
They also cited how the former Oklahoma standout helped the team improve from three wins to a playoff appearance.
It looked like the Cardinals had the upper hand because they have already exercised Murray’s fifth-year option for $29.7 million.
However, it turned out that Murray and Burkhardt had the last laugh.
Implications For Murray’s Contract Extension
The extension won’t start until 2024 which makes Murray the Cardinals’ starter until at least 2028.
More importantly, they get to have Murray for at least seven more seasons.
While the contract’s breakdown is not yet available, it’s possible that the Cardinals gave him a higher base salary towards the latter years of the deal.
Still, the $46.1 million annual average value will make him one of the highest-paid players in the league.
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