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Pro Football Network recently labeled QB Kyler Murray as one of the most overrated Arizona Cardinals. Murray entered his fourth year with the team under lofty expectations, having signed a massive five-year, $230.5 million contract extension ahead of the 2022-2023 season.
A torn ACL in Week 13 derailed those plans. The Cardinals ended the season with seven straight losses, leading to a reset of the front office and coaching staff. Since then, Murray has faced an uphill battle to reclaim respect from the rest of the league. He didn’t return to the field until Week 10 of last season but finished the year on a high note, throwing for 200+ yards in four consecutive games. Yet, critics remain unconvinced that Murray is the real deal.
“There’s an old saying that states the best ability is availability. Unfortunately for Kyler Murray, he has struggled to stay healthy in recent years. Despite being regarded as the Arizona Cardinals franchise quarterback, he’s failed to live up to the hype,” wrote Pro Football Network’s Anthony DiBona.
Kyler Murray and Expectations in 2024
Murray has played only 19 games in the last two seasons, with Arizona winning only six of those starts. While he has shown flashes of potential brilliance, his inconsistency prevents him from achieving the status of a great quarterback and justifies his top-10 quarterback compensation.
Two offseasons ago, Murray signed a five-year, $230.5 million contract extension with Arizona. During his tenure, he has guided the Cardinals to only one postseason berth.
2024 is a crucial year for Murray, who has a clean bill of health and plenty of talent around him. With the extension now in effect and carrying a nearly $50 million cap hit for this season, all eyes are on Murray to perform.
“I think his game’s gonna go to another level. I know it is. I’ve been extremely pleased with where he’s at, what he’s doing, the command and the leadership that he’s displaying right now,” Gannon said of Murray.
Cardinals’ offensive coordinator Drew Petzing also had a lot of praise for Murray: “He’s the type of guy that gets better every day,” Petzing said when asked about the growth of Murray as a quarterback. “Sometimes it’s physically, sometimes it’s mentally, sometimes it’s from a leadership perspective. But when you take the job as seriously as he does, I think you’re always going to see that growth.
Murray returned to the lineup halfway through 2023 and noticeably sparked Arizona’s offense. The Cardinals achieved three of their four total wins under his guidance, averaging six more points per game with him in the mix. A full season of Murray has fans eagerly anticipating what’s ahead at State Farm Stadium.
This report information from Burn City Sports
