TEMPE, Ariz. — The drama is over and the decision is in: Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals have made a long-term commitment to each other with a new contract that would keep the quarterback in the desert through the 2028 season.
The two-time Pro Bowl selection was taken with the No. 1 overall pick out of Oklahoma after he won the Heisman Trophy and has largely delivered in his quest to make the Cardinals a better franchise.
The team announced the new contract on Thursday. ESPN reported that the contract could be worth $230.5 million, with $160 million guaranteed.
Murray’s agent, Erik Burkhardt, didn’t immediately return a message seeking comment.
Murray’s new contract puts him on par with other young star quarterbacks throughout the league like Buffalo’s Josh Allen, who signed a deal worth more than $250 million last season. Murray will make an average of more than $46 million per season, which is similar to other elite quarterbacks such as Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes and Allen.
Listed at just 5-foot-10, some around the NFL worried the 24-year-old Murray was too short to be a dominant pro quarterback, but his stats through three seasons prove otherwise.
He’s completed nearly 67% of his passes through 46 career games for 11,480 yards and 70 touchdowns while rushing for 1,786 yards and 20 TDs. Murray is particularly good at extending plays with his feet, using his scrambling ability for spectacular gains.
Arizona had a 5-10-1 record during his rookie season in 2019 but the Cardinals improved to 11-6 last season before losing to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC wild-card round during the playoffs.
The deal brings an end to a strange, passive-aggressive offseason contract squabble. At one point, Murray wiped his social media accounts of all references to the Cardinals and it wasn’t clear whether the franchise was ready to make a long-term investment.
The two sides appeared to be on a path toward reconciliation over the past few months. GM Steve Keim said that there was “zero chance” Murray would be traded and the quarterback put on social media that he wanted to win Super Bowls with the Cardinals and called Arizona “home.”
The Cardinals had already picked up Murray’s fifth-year option for the 2023 season, further easing tensions, but Thursday’s news puts an end to any lingering questions.
Now Murray can take the field for training camp next week knowing his football future is secure. The Cardinals face plenty of challenges in 2022, including navigating the first six games without star receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who was suspended for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy.
Murray and fourth-year coach Kliff Kingsbury are under significant pressure to produce this fall after last year’s late-season collapse. The Cardinals looked like one of the NFL’s best teams in 2021 after starting with a 10-2 record, but lost four of their last five regular-season games before getting beat 34-11 by the Rams in the wild-card round.
PATRIOTS: The team announced its 2022 coaching staff Thursday, including new titles for lead offensive assistants Joe Judge and Matt Patricia.
Patricia is officially listed as the team’s offensive line coach, while Judge will coach quarterbacks, as previously reported. Patricia has also maintained his 2021 title of Senior Football Advisor.
The Patriots won’t have a named offensive or defensive coordinator this season, their fifth straight without an official defensive coordinator.
BROWNS: Cleveland reached an agreement Thursday with free agent quarterback Josh Rosen on a one-year contract, giving them another veteran as they await a ruling on Deshaun Watson, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
Rosen, who was on Cleveland’s radar before the 2018 draft, will officially sign the contract Friday, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the deal. The 25-year-old Rosen worked out this week for the Browns along with A.J. McCarron as they make contingency plans in case Watson is suspended by the NFL.
The Browns want to open training camp next week with four quarterbacks, according to the person.
Watson is facing a possible NFL suspension after being accused by two dozen female massage therapists of sexual misconduct during sessions while the three-time Pro Bowler played for the Houston Texans. Former federal judge Sue L. Robinson, the league’s disciplinary officer, is deciding whether Watson, who was traded to the Browns in March, has violated the personal conduct policy.
If Watson is suspended, the Browns intend to go with veteran Jacoby Brissett as their starter. He signed as a free agent one day after Cleveland enticed Watson to waive his no-trade clause with a five-year, $230 million contract that’s fully guaranteed. Josh Dobbs is also on Cleveland’s roster, but the 27-year-old has never started an NFL game.
MEDIA: The NFL Network announced that former Patriots defensive back Jason McCourty will be joining the permanent cast of “Good Morning Football,” the network’s flagship morning football talk show.
McCourty will join a cast that already includes Peter Schrager, Kyle Brandt and Will Selva. Also joining the cast along with McCourty is Jamie Erdahl, who previously worked as a sideline reporter for NESN.
McCourty will make his debut as a co-host on Monday.
McCourty played three seasons with the New England Patriots, where he played alongside his twin brother, Devin McCourty. The two completed a football dream by teaming up at the NFL level and winning a Super Bowl together. But after announcing his retirement from the NFL last week, Jason McCourty is now moving on to the first step in his post-NFL career.
RAVENS: Any speculation as to whether quarterback Lamar Jackson will hold out of Ravens training camp until he signs a contract extension was seemingly put to rest.
Jackson, the 2019 NFL Most Valuable Player, arrived at the Ravens’ facility in Owings Mills five days before veterans are expected to report for training camp.
Jackson, who is in the final year of his rookie contract, was absent for voluntary organized team activities but appeared at mandatory minicamp, where he would not commit to participating in training camp or playing in Week 1 without a contract extension.
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