The situation between the Arizona Cardinals and their quarterback Kyler Murray was going terribly wrong until the team finally decided to keep him enrolled in the roster for a prolonged period by signing him to a new deal. After one year, the veteran’s position in the squad has once again become uncertain following his recent injury and the franchise’s decision to pick a generational quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Cardinals are reportedly going to make a major move by saying bye to their starter to pave the way for their upcoming draft picks. Though nothing is certain as of now, Murray has some interesting destinations to land on following his potential departure from Arizona.
5 possible destinations for Cardinals’ QB Kyler Murray
New England Patriots
Murray can be a good addition to the Patriots who are still waiting to find a franchise quarterback following the departure of their GOAT player Tom Brady. Their coach Bill Belichick has been criticized for making drastic changes to the offensive side of the ball recently. From Mac Zones to Bailey Zappe, Belichick has no trust in any signal-caller that he had on TB12. Now, the Cardinals star can take the bait to prove himself under this picky HC.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are relying heavily on Desmond Ridder for now, after spending high amounts for Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson in the draft. Though Ridder is doing his job perfectly, the franchise may decide to include Kyler to have a veteran presence in their young QB room.
Tennessee Titans
Ryan Tannehill, 35, is doing the quarterbacking job for the Titans, with Malik Willis as the backup. The team urgently needs to decide on their long-term QB in the absence of Ryan. Though Malik showcased a promising performance earlier and was incredible in the training camp as well, Tennessee may trade for a vet like Murray to solidify their offense.
Washington Commanders
Nine signal-callers had started at least four games for the Commanders since the initial period of the 2013 season. Having Harris group as the new owners, the team is trying to recollect themselves from the ugly past records of the NFL’s fifth-worst team in QB turnover rankings over the last few years. While Sam Howell is still doing the job as a dual threat in Washington, they might navigate new opportunities under Murray’s leadership if their current QB fails to showcase his caliber this season.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy has already moonlighted as a hero for the franchise by pushing the franchise to a 4-0 mark this season. While the young star is not likely to lose his quarterbacking job soon, San Francisco may also try to sign Kyler to give a veteran presence to their roster. As the whole season is still there, Purdy’s performance in the upcoming games will only decide if the 49ers will like to make an effort for the Cardinals star.
What is Kyler Murray’s contract with the Cardinals?
In 2022, Murray signed a five-year extension with the Cardinals, worth up to $230.5 million along with $105 million guaranteed at signing while $160 million guaranteed for injury, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero. The deal made the QB the second-highest-paid player back then with $46.1 million in base salary, albeit he now slipped below following the blockbuster contracts of Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, and Russell Wilson.
Notably, the vet’s deal included an addendum requiring him to study film for four hours per week during the season. By this contract, he was set to be with the Cardinals till 2028. However, following the arrival of general manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon this offseason, the 26-year-old’s future in Arizona has been speculated to get trimmed soon.
What’s your take on Murray’s contract situation? Tell us in the comments.
