The Kyler Murray saga has reached another stalemate. This time, with Murray’s agent Erik Burkhardt reportedly pulling his offer made to the team off the table.
Meanwhile the Cardinals organization has yet to formally make an offer to extend Murray, who’s heading into the final year of his four-year deal. The Cardinals still have the fifth-year option, which means they really have two years of control left.
Murray showed his disapproval with not being offered a contract extension earlier in the offseason by scrubbing his social media of all things Arizona Cardinals. It was a move that some former players blasted as childish. Others agreed with Murray and suggested that he hit the ground 100 miles and running, out of AZ.
Though he expressed some regret about the incident, the offseason has been filled with back-and-forth posturing between Murray, his agent and the team. According to reports, Murray’s agent sent the team an official letter outlining what kind of bag it would take to keep the diminutive dynamo in the “Valley of the Sun.”
Murray has expressed a desire to stay in AZ, but wants to be fully compensated now while huge contracts are being dished out to comparable and inferior players.
A statement from Cardinals’ QB Kyler Murray’s agent, @ErikBurkhardt: pic.twitter.com/qsWGZIZ0jB
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 28, 2022
Will Murray Sit The Season?
Thursday brought another layer of drama to this latest developing quarterback drama as NFL Insider Tom Pelissero first reported on Twitter that Arizona has yet to make an offer to the 2019 No. 1 overall pick.
Pelissero took to Twitter to talk about the ongoing situation.
“The Cardinals have yet to make a contact offer to Pro Bowl QB Kyler Murray, whose agent Erik Burkhardt, informed the team weeks ago he was pulling his opening proposal off the table.
Other teams are monitoring closely; Arizona insists Murray won’t be traded. Four QBs — Aaron Rodgers, Matt Stafford, Deshaun Watson and Derek Carr — have signed contract extensions worth $40 million or more in the past month as the market continues to go up. Murray is due about $5.5 million in 2022, and it would be a surprise if he plays on that deal.
The Cardinals have said they want to extend Kyler Murray eventually, and Murray said recently, “I’m not really too worried about my future as a Cardinal. But with two weeks until the draft, there are no negotiations, and other teams are watching. A situation to monitor.”
Arizona insists Murray won’t be traded. Four QBs — Aaron Rodgers, Matt Stafford, Deshaun Watson and Derek Carr — have signed contract extensions worth $40 million or more in the past month as the market continues to explode.
Dak Prescott got his $40M too, before the season popped off.
Murray is due about $5.5 million in 2022, and it would be shocking if he played on that deal. The Cardinals have said they want to extend Murray eventually.
With two weeks until the draft and negotiations nonexistent, naturally other teams are watching.
Did…did Kyler Murray really scrub all Arizona Cardinals references/photos from his Instagram?!? pic.twitter.com/jATKbU1GJs
— Johnny Venerable (@JohnnyVenerable) February 7, 2022
Murray Asking For Extension With Two Years Left On Current Rookie Deal
Murray and his agent are trying to strong arm the Cardinals who still have him under control for at least two more seasons. Murray and Burkhardt must also remember the last couple of times Murray played he wasn’t impressive.
Kingsbury Recently Said Team And Murray Were In A Good Place
Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury, who’s probably coaching for his job this season, talked about Murray at the NFL Annual Meetings in March. The coach says the team and Murray are as chill as the other side of the pillow.
“We are in a great spot with him. I know that was what it was, but nothing has changed from our end. We’re excited about his future and want to make him an Arizona Cardinal for as long as we can.
I think all of us want to feel wanted. You put so much time and effort working in this game, so that’s a big part of it. Murray knows how we feel about him, and I’m so excited to see what we can do with him moving forward.”
Is Murray Buggin’ Or Are His Tactics Legit?
Murray is just like any other star QB, and wants to get paid, but he may be going about it the wrong way. These types of unrelenting demands and threats in the middle of a contract usually lead to a nasty trade, which may be what Murray wants.
The former Heisman winner and pro baseball player was perturbed after Arizona’s embarrassing playoff loss to the World Champion Rams. He took a lot of flak for that Wild Card game loss and reports say he felt the organization threw him under the bus. Arizona’s hesitation to offer Murray a mega deal just further worsens relations.
Forcing trades is the new sexy among the NFL’s elite players.
Murray’s Arrival Has Equaled Wins
Murray has shown the dynamic dual-threat ability that earned him the 2018 Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma. He also led Texas High School power Allen to a (42-0) record and three straight state championships with him as starter.
In his three NFL seasons, Murray’s produced 11,470 passing yards, 70 touchdowns and 34 interceptions in his career, while completing 67 percent of his passes. He’s also rushed for 1,786 yards and 20 touchdowns.
It appears that the negotiations, or lack thereof, have turned ugly, but Murray and his agent have made it very clear that they want a new deal or who knows, the former No. 1 draft pick of the Oakland As could play baseball for a season. He has options and the Cardinals don’t. Maybe they want to return to the three-win laughing stock they were before Murray arrived. In three seasons, he’s made them 11-win playoff contenders.
