Who’s got next? After Mahomes, some look to Cardinals QB Murray

Patrick Mahomes’ new contract with the Kansas City Chiefs goes through the 2031 season and could pay out a maximum of $503 million. A relatively team-friendly deal under the circumstances, about $141 million is guaranteed at this point in time.

In any case, it’s a big commitment to the franchise quarterback.

A few news cycles after taking in the massive contract and its figures, NFL analysts have begun looking beyond Kansas City and Mahomes. As in, who’s the next franchise quarterback to will get paid? And who’s the next star?

The Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott and the Houston Texans’ Deshaun Watson are the likely players next to sign long-term extensions.

Beyond that, it’s hard not to trip over the name of the Arizona Cardinals’ young quarterback before he begins his second NFL season.

On NFL.com, former running back Maurice Jones-Drew selected Kyler Murray when asked: Which quarterback other than Mahomes would you want for the next 12 seasons?

The 2019 No. 1 overall pick lived up to the hype as a dual-threat quarterback who thrilled in Kliff Kingsbury’s Air Raid offense with impressive throws and timely rushes. Some might argue that Lamar Jackson would be a better choice, but Murray’s playing style isn’t quite as concerning as the reigning league MVP’s.

Former Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner, part of the same panel of analysts, also selected Murray — sort of.

The answer is nobody! Twelve years in the NFL feels like an eternity. No other quarterback has proven that type of worth or is young enough to make me believe he can carry my team for that long. I know that’s not the answer you were looking for, so for the sake of providing an answer, I’ll say … Kyler Murray.

In the immediate future, there are high expectations for Murray. He threw for 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while posting a QBR ranking (55.7) that was 15th in the NFL as a rookie.

Murray was 15th in completion percentage (64.4%) and presuming the game slows down, he takes fewer sacks and that he can take advantage of Arizona trading for receiver DeAndre Hopkins, the second-year quarterback should take a big step forward in 2020.

ESPN polled more than 50 league executives, coaches and scouts, and Murray earned enough votes to be rated the 13th-best quarterback heading into the year. Said one anonymous NFC executive to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler:

“Kyler can take a normal drop, then make instinctual lateral slides in the pocket to get himself into an open throwing lane. That’s rare. That’s the baseball in him. And his arm talent is ridiculous.”

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