The Arizona Cardinals are expected to sign quarterback Kyler Murray to a lucrative contract extension sometime during the offseason. It could end up being more than initially expected.
Pro Football Focus’ Brad Spielberger, writing for ESPN, projects Murray’s contract extension will be six years for a total of $280 million, including $155 million in total guarantees.
That total would be a per-year average of nearly $46.7 million.
That surpasses what supposedly was the contract offer Murray’s agent, Erik Burkhardt, presented to the team after the season was over. That was supposedly in the range of $40 million per year.
Murray has earned the highest PFF grade on throws of 20-plus yards in the NFL over the last two seasons with a 98.8 mark, and the Brown addition will go a long way in continuing that trend. All signs point to a deal eventually getting done, even as Murray drives a hard bargain at the negotiating table while looking for a deal that reflects the new quarterback market, where Aaron Rodgers is now the top earner at just over $50 million per year.
We know the deal will get done. The Cardinals are committed to Murray. The question is when. He is currently not attending voluntary offseason work but is expected to be in mandatory minicamp.
Many believe he will not do any on-field work until his deal is done.
If the extension is inevitable, it makes sense for everyone involved to get it done sooner rather than later.
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