In less than a week, the Arizona Cardinals will know exactly where they are selecting in the 2024 NFL Draft. Their first choice will fall somewhere in the No. 2-7 overall range. They are currently picking No. 4 overall after upsetting the Eagles last weekend.
Arizona also has a first-round pick from Houston as part of a draft-day trade a year ago. They have the resources to make a change at quarterback if they determine Kyler Murray is not the long-term solution.
Murray was the No. 1 overall selection out of Oklahoma in the 2019 NFL Draft. Some may have forgotten that it was thought the Texas native would bypass a career in football altogether in favor of Major League Baseball. Once it was learned that Murray would be focusing on football, the dots were quickly connected to first year Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury.
Five years and a lucrative contract extension later, the franchise will be weighing its options on Murray. Here’s a look at what they could do.
Why the Cardinals would keep Murray
Murray is an athletically gifted quarterback whose mobility presents a challenge for opposing defenses. Head coach Jonathan Gannon comes from Philadelphia, where Jalen Hurts’ dual-threat capabilities have uplifted the offensive output. Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing comes from Cleveland and Minnesota before that — offenses that are commonly executed by predominantly pocket passers.
Murray signed a five-year deal worth nearly $160 million in guaranteed money in July of 2022. He has four years remaining on that contract. If he were cut prior to June 1, the team would face roughly an $81.5 million dead salary cap hit. If he was released with a post-June 1 designation, the number dips to $48.3 million and another $10 million each year over the remainder of the deal. It is not a prohibitive figure but certainly one that limits the amount of major changes that could be made by a…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2024-nfl-draft-what-should-cardinals-do-with-kyler-murray-and-a-top-five-pick-examining-arizonas-options/
Author : Josh Edwards
Publish date : 2024-01-02 18:19:09
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