Kyler Murray Contract: 2022 Salary, Potential Extension For Cardinals Quarterback

After weeks of speculation regarding a rift between Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals, the quarterback has made it clear that the issue comes down to his contract.

Murray’s agent, Erik Burkhardt, released a lengthy statement Monday, seeking an extension before the 2022 NFL season. Entering his fourth NFL season, Murray is under team control for two more years. Murray has a $5.5 million salary in 2022, and the Cardinals can exercise his fifth-year option for 2023.

“Actions speak much louder than words in this volatile business,” Burkhardt said as part of a statement. “It is now simply up to the Cardinals to decide if they prioritize their rapidly improving, 24-year-old, already 2x Pro Bowl QB, who led the organization from 3 wins before his arrival to 11 wins and their first playoff appearance in 5 years, or rather, if they choose to financially prioritize committing to other areas and continuing to merely talk about addressing Kyler's long-term future as their QB. Unfortunately, every player, coach and executive in the NFL knows [or should know] that words and hypothetical contractual promises are regularly dismissed and fleeting in this business.

"Kyler remains hopeful that the organization [chooses] to commit so that he can continue leading the Cardinals to further success and value for many years to come."

The statement indicates that Murray might decide not to play for the Cardinals in 2022 if he doesn’t receive a contract extension. After being selected first overall in 2019 and making the Pro Bowl in both 2020 and 2021, Murray could command a deal that makes him one of the league’s highest-paid players.

The Buffalo Bills gave Josh Allen a six-year, $258 million extension last offseason as the quarterback headed into his fourth year in the pros. In the previous offseason, Patrick Mahomes inked a 12-year contract worth up to $503 million with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Murray has not achieved the same kind of success that Allen and Mahomes did in their first three seasons. The quarterback was limited to 14 games in 2021 after starting the season as a top MVP candidate. Murray played poorly in a 34-11 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round of the playoffs.

The Cardinals could give Murray an extension similar to the one that Deshaun Watson signed just before his fourth NFL season. The Houston Texans gave Watson a four-year, $160 million deal in September 2020.

"These contracts, especially the quarterback contracts, are very complicated." Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill said on 98.7 FM Arizona's Sports Station on Friday. "Most of the big ones are done further down the road. I think Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen were done in the summertime. Others were done in the summertime. We've got time. But they're complicated."

Murray set career highs with a 100.6 passer rating, 270.5 passing yards per game and nine wins in 2021. He has a 22-23-1 record as a starter.