The likelihood of Kyler Murray departing from the Arizona Cardinals

In late February, Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray finally disclosed his future plans with the team after dropping hints on social media for weeks.

Murray’s agent announced that Murray is interested in solidifying his role as the Cardinals’ quarterback for the long term, but he is requesting a substantial financial commitment from Arizona in return.

To date, this is the latest development in the ongoing Murray-Cardinals saga, which started when the quarterback unfollowed the team’s Instagram account soon after the season ended.

Since the end of February, Murray’s circumstances have remained relatively static, but the NFL’s quarterback market has undergone major changes. Tom Brady unretired, Aaron Rodgers chose to stay in Green Bay, and notable trades have relocated Russell Wilson to Denver and Deshaun Watson to Cleveland.

In this analysis, we take a look at the latest developments surrounding Murray for Arizona Cardinals bettors, and also explore the notable changes in potential suitors for the Cardinals quarterback since February.

The MVP odds for Kyler Murray in 2023

Due to injury, Murray is currently sidelined, which has led to his Arizona online betting odds being unavailable.

The 2022 Super Bowl odds for the Arizona Cardinals

With Super Bowl 57 nearing at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, there is excitement building about the possibility of major wagers being placed on the game. Following the trend of the last two Super Bowl winners triumphing at their home field, the Arizona Cardinals are a potentially intriguing choice for a future bet. Presently, DraftKings Arizona and BetMGM both have the Cardinals listed at +2500 odds to claim victory in the Super Bowl, a decrease from +2000 just a few weeks ago.

Kyler Murray’s Rookie Contract

In 2022, Murray will be in the final year of his rookie contract, a four-year, $35.7 million deal he inked as the top draft pick for the Cardinals in 2019. Over the course of the deal, Murray’s base salary has seen a rise from $495,000 in 2019 to $965,000 in 2022. He has also received an annual signing bonus of $5,897,481 from 2019 to 2022.

Murray’s rookie contract includes a $4,524,360 roster bonus and a $11,386,841 salary cap hit for the 2022 season. His average annual salary is $8,914,504. If Murray does not sign an extension, he will be a restricted free agent after the upcoming season and an unrestricted free agent if he is not signed to a long-term deal by the end of the 2024 regular season.

Could there be a possibility of an extension with the Cardinals?

Murray and the Cardinals have until July 15th to work through their differences before the NFL’s contract extension deadline.

In the 2023 offseason, the Cardinals can choose to either extend Murray’s contract or use the franchise tag on him, guaranteeing his involvement with the team for the next season at least.

In late February, Murray’s agent issued a statement expressing Murray’s desire for a lucrative, long-term contract.

Highlights of Kyler Murray in Arizona

Murray’s return to full health helped Kingsbury’s team achieve a 6-0 start, securing the Cardinals’ first playoff appearance in six years and making them top contenders for the Super Bowl on Arizona betting apps.

Murray reached new career highs in 2021 by completing 69.2% of his passes and throwing for over 3,500 yards for the second consecutive year. He also achieved his best TD-to-interception ratio with 24 touchdown passes and only 10 interceptions.

In 2021, his rushing stats hit a career low with just 423 yards and five touchdowns, a sharp decline from his impressive 2020 numbers of 819 yards and 11 touchdowns. Despite starting the season strong and being a top contender for NFL MVP, leading the Cardinals to a 6-0 record, Murray’s ankle injury and inconsistent performance ultimately dashed his hopes. Nevertheless, these challenges showcase the quarterback’s enduring potential for the seasons ahead.

Murray’s First Twitter Response

The day after the Super Bowl, Murray took to Twitter to address the contract controversy, stating his ambition to “continue to develop and enhance” without revealing if this development would be with the Cardinals.

BetMGM has odds on Murray starting in Week 1 for the Cardinals.

BetMGM Arizona ceased providing odds on the Cardinals quarterback situation by the end of March.

The website started taking bets on who would take the first snap in Week 1 of the regular season for Arizona following the Super Bowl. The odds of Murray being the one to take the snap began at -2000 and slowly dropped to -1000 in mid February, then further decreased to -500 by late February.

Who will be the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1 of the 2022 regular season?

The February odds for Kyler Murray’s future team

After Murray voiced his unhappiness with Arizona, Bookies.com oddsmaker Adam Thompson quickly established odds on potential destinations for the quarterback. This list illustrates the notable shifts in the NFL quarterback market between the end of the season and now.

February brought with it the breakdown of Murray’s potential future NFL team.

Consider the possible teams that may have been interested in Murray after he voiced his discontent with the Cardinals in early February.

• After Tom Brady’s retirement, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are on the lookout for a new quarterback. One potential candidate is Kyler Murray, the former No. 1 draft pick currently with the Arizona Cardinals. Arians, the Buccaneers’ coach, previously guided the Cardinals to two playoff appearances before stepping down in 2017. Since joining Tampa Bay, Arians has amassed a successful record of 31-18 and secured a Super Bowl victory in 2021.
• After Peyton Manning retired in 2015, the Denver Broncos have been on the lookout for their next star quarterback. With a revolving door of quarterbacks in recent years, only Case Keenum started every game in the 2018 season. The team, listed as co-favorites at +350, is now eyeing a potential partnership with Kyler Murray. This move would give Broncos executive and quarterback legend John Elway the opportunity to groom the team’s next great quarterback, a position they have been trying to fill since Manning left.
• The Green Bay Packers are currently at +650 in the mix, but the future of quarterback Aaron Rodgers is uncertain as he approaches the end of his contract. Craig Mucklow, Vice President of Trading at Caesars Sportsbook, proposed a potential trade of Rodgers for Kyler Murray that could benefit both teams. This trade would inject new energy into the Packers, already Super Bowl contenders, while providing the Arizona Cardinals with a seasoned QB to strengthen their roster.<br><br>Mucklow noted that any changes in odds would hinge on the players involved in trades or if Murray is replaced. If Murray is traded for Rodgers, prices will stay the same. However, if Murray is replaced with a less skilled quarterback or draft picks, there will be a noticeable shift in the team’s odds. Mucklow stressed that odds adjustments will not be made based on rumors, as they are often just negotiation tactics. Nevertheless, rumors could prompt bets on teams in the same division that may face potential instability.
• The Dallas Cowboys, considered a surprise contender with odds of +800, are on the lookout for the missing piece to their team puzzle. Murray appears to be the ideal fit for their system, given his flawless 9-0 record at AT&T Stadium spanning from high school to the NFL. Fans are hopeful for his potential return to the team. Meanwhile, current quarterback Dak Prescott inked a hefty four-year, $160 million contract with the Cowboys in 2020, securing his place with the team until 2024.
• The Atlanta Falcons are considered a long shot with +1000 odds, mainly due to concerns about veteran QB Matt Ryan’s age and declining performance. In 2021, Ryan had his lowest passing yards and touchdown totals since 2010 and, at 36 years old, has not led the Falcons to the playoffs since 2017. Head coach Arthur Smith, entering his second year with the team, posted a 7-10 record in 2021 after a successful stint as the Titans’ offensive coordinator. There is optimism that Smith can help Ryan bounce back, much like he did with Titans QB Ryan Tannehill.

Author

Peterson Christopher

Peterson Christopher has been reporting on sports and sports betting in Arizona for more than seven years, having contributed to ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly, and the Green Valley News. He currently serves as the primary writer for yengols.com.