Arizona Cardinals star Keeler Murray He agreed to a five-year, $230.5 million extension, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter, a deal that makes him one of the highest-paid American football players.
The source told Shifter that the deal, which runs through the 2028 season, includes $160 million in guaranteed funds. The Cardinals officially announced Murray’s five-year extension on Thursday, but they did not reveal the terms.
The average annual value of a Murray deal is $46.1 million, the second highest in the NFL after only the Green Bay Packers star. Aaron Rodgers ($50.3 million).
Deshaun WatsonThe Cleveland Browns’ deal with the Cleveland Browns is worth an average of $46 million, and the Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick MahomesThe average deal is $45 million per year.
Murray’s agent, Eric Burkhart, and Cardinals’ general manager Steve Kim worked on the deal until Wednesday night and finalized the agreement Thursday morning after months of ongoing negotiations, according to Shifter.
Murray, 24, was already under contract until the 2023 season after the Cardinal exercised their option for a fifth year in a junior deal in April. But the long-term future of the 2018 Heisman Trophy winner in Arizona became uncertain earlier this year after Murray cleaned up his Instagram page after the Pro Bowl, leaving only two jobs: one of him in Oklahoma from 2018 and one of the Pro Bowl.
Kim said earlier this year that there was “no opportunity” to trade in Murray and suggested a long-term deal could be struck sometime during the summer after the organization had a chance to “take a deep breath and sort of refocus” after free agency and an FA draft. American of the year, similar to negotiation schedules that culminated in profitable deals for other third-year brokers such as Mahomes and Buffalo Bills Star Josh Allen.
Murray, who was first drafted overall by the Cardinals in 2019, has established himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL over the past three seasons. He led the Cardinals to improve year on year each season – from five wins in 2019 to eight wins in 2020 and 11 in 2021, all while setting records.
Murray is the first player in NFL history with no less than 70 passing touchdowns, 20 quick touchdowns, 3,500 yards, 400 yards and 17 games with a completion percentage of at least 70% in his first three seasons. His overall completion percentage of 66.86 is the best for a player in his first three seasons.
Murray has also been named The Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2019 and Pro Bowler in each of the past two seasons.
Arizona missed the playoffs in 2020 after losing six of its last nine games — including back-to-back contests to win at the end of the season. Murray was injured throughout the second half of 2020 and spent post-season frustrated and lamenting the mistakes he made himself that cost the Cardinals a post-season berth.
However, in 2021, the Cardinals seemed to have resolved their issues since the end of 2020. They started 7-0, and Murray was part of the MVP conversation. He then missed three games with an ankle injury, and Arizona went on to finish the season 4-6 and lost the Los Angeles Rams on the NFC wild card tour.
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