The ongoing contract saga between Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals has begun to bleed into onfield work as the former Sooners quarterback has opted to sit out of organized team activities according to ESPN.
Murray, who’s set to make $11.3 million in the fourth year of his rookie deal is under contract through the 2023 season with the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals picked up his fifth-year rookie option for 2023 that will guarantee Murray $29.7 million.
The average annual value of his contract ranks behind Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota, Trevor Lawrence, and Jimmy Garappolo. In recent seasons, he’s been a far more productive quarterback than those three.
In recent seasons, we’ve seen first-round picks seek contract extensions heading into the fourth year of their rookie contracts. Running back Ezekiel Elliott of the Dallas Cowboys is one example. He held out of training camp looking for a long-term deal, which he got a week before the regular season was set to start in 2019.
Regardless of where Kyler Murray lands in various quarterback rankings, he’s going to get paid like a top five to 10 quarterback in the NFL. That’s how the market works. The next guy up that’s considered a franchise quarterback gets paid like one. Look for the former Sooner to land somewhere around $40 to $45 million a year whenever his long-term deal with the Arizona Cardinals comes to pass.
Until then, Murray will wait on the Cardinals away from the team facilities.
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