Rocio Robles
After a relatively calm period between quarterback Kyler Murray and his current team, the Arizona Cardinals, it seems that things are about to get tense again after failed negotiations between the player and the team’s management, who are looking to extend his contract for the next few seasons.
It was recently revealed that Kyler Murray’s agent, Erik Burkhardt, withdrew the contract proposal made to the Cardinals for his client. This could lead to negotiations becoming quite lengthy, as recently the team has also shown no interest in extending the quarterback’s contract, as no proposal from the team has come to him.
Kyler Murray was selected by the Arizona Cardinals as the first overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, and was set to lead the organization’s offense in the short- and long-term future. In his first season in the league in 2019, he earned recognition as the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year after breaking several records for a rookie quarterback in the franchise. 2020 and 2021 saw him earn a Pro Bowl call-up, and in the 2021 season specifically, he led the team to its first postseason appearance since 2015.
The player will enter his fourth year on a rookie contract in this upcoming 2022 NFL season, and will earn about $5.5 million. His agent Burkhardt commented in late February that he presented the Cardinals with a proposal for “long-term stability” for both the organization and Kyler Murray. He also noted that the contract would “match the current market for quarterbacks but would allow the team to build a roster with the ability to win championships.”
Although the negotiations seem to be at an impasse, the team has already mentioned that it has no intention of trading Kyler Murray. There are several teams in the league interested in acquiring the services of a quarterback, though, so the Cardinals will surely have to start giving in to reach a mutual agreement.
Cardinals and Kyler Murray, a tense relationship
While Kyler Murray led the Cardinals to their first playoffs appearance in six years, things between the organization and the player have not been at an optimal point heading into these negotiations.
Arizona was eliminated in the wildcard round of the playoffs after being defeated 34-11 by the Los Angeles Rams, who would eventually be crowned Super Bowl champions. After the loss, rumors circulated that the team was looking for a quarterback with better leadership qualities, which irritated Kyler Murray, who claims he was made a scapegoat for the team’s demise.
The truth is that one of the two parties will have to give in eventually, as it seems that Arizona has the most to lose if Murray leaves due to the lack of players of his level at the quarterback position in the current market.
