Sources and reports confirmed this week that Arizona Cardinals star quarterback Kyler Murray has agreed to a five-year contract extension worth $230.5 million. The extension makes him one of the NFL’s highest-paid quarterbacks.
Murray is the first drafted quarterback by the Arizona Cardinals to receive an extension since Jake Plummer in 1998.
The deal runs through the 2028 season with $160 million guaranteed for injury. He’ll make $105 million guaranteed right at the point of signing the deal.
On top of the $105 million guaranteed, there is also: $4.25 million in per game roster bonuses; $9.3 million in offseason workout bonuses; $750,000 escalator tied to rushing in 2024-28; $750.000 escalator in 2024-28 for going to the Super Bowl.
Coincidentally enough, the Cardinals structured the contract in such a way that it dropped Murray’s 2022 cap hit from $11-plus million to $7 million, allowing further roster flexibility.
On average, Murray is set to make $46.1 million per year over the five-year period, making him the second-highest paid QB behind Aaron Rodgers.
Deshaun Watson’s deal with the Browns has an average annual value of $46 million, and Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes’ deal averages $45 million per year.
“There’s nobody in the game as talented,” Larry Fitzgerald said of Murray.
Murray, in a short amount of time in the league, has some notable wins already. He was the 2019 Rookie of the Year, and a two-time Pro Bowl selection. He’s also the first player with 70+ passing TDs and 20+ rushing TDs in his first three seasons, and the first player with 3,500+ passing yards and 400+ rushing in each of his first three seasons
In 2018, the Arizona Cardinals were last-place (32nd) in the league in points per game. Since drafting Murray, they’ve been 16th (2019), 13th (2020), and 11th (2021).
Cardinals general manager Steve Keim now has given extensions to both coach Kliff Kingsbury, and QB urray. Michael Bidwill — Arizona’s owner – now has the Kingsbury/Murray duo intact through 2027.
Ironically, both Murray and Kingsbury share an agent in Erik Bukhardt.
Murray will formally meet and speak with reporters at the Cardinals’ training facility Friday afternoon.
