Arizona Cardinals extend tenders to K Zane Gonzalez, RT Justin Murray
Mar 17, 2020, 9:28 AM
Cardinals free agent RT Justin Murray, left, and K Zane Gonzalez, right. (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
The Arizona Cardinals announced Tuesday that they extended a one-year qualifying offer to kicker Zane Gonzalez, a restricted free agent, as well as a tender to right tackle Justin Murray, an exclusive rights free agent.
Tendering Murray takes him off the free agency market.
Gonzalez can still search out contract offers elsewhere but the Cardinals can match. The former Arizona State kicker made 31 of 35 field goals in 2019, hitting two attempts of 50 yards or more and going 5-of-8 from 40-49 yards out. He only missed a single field goal out of 25 attempts inside 39 yards.
According to Gonzalez’s agent, Arizona offered a second-round tender on the kicker. OverTheCap.com projects that as a $3.3 million deal.
Murray was a waiver pickup after 53-man roster cuts last season and ended up starting at right tackle in Week 1 — that was his first start as an NFL player. With injuries to veteran tackles Marcus Gilbert in the preseason and then Jordan Mills during the year, Murray ended up making 12 starts and played in 14 games.
“Towards the end of the season, I thought he played at a fairly high level and he’s a guy that can play not only right tackle, he can play inside at guard,” Cardinals general manager Steve Keim told reporters at the NFL Draft Combine.
Keim confirmed that the Cardinals would tender Murray after proving himself last year.
Murray fills a need opposite starting left tackle D.J. Humphries. Seventh-round draft pick Joshua Miles and starting left guard Justin Pugh are the only capable tackles currently on the roster.
“He’s a guy we’re excited to have back,” Keim said of Murray at the combine. “He worked his tail off in the weight room and he did all the things (offensive line coach Sean Kugler) wanted to see in the film room. He is a guy we think can continue to grow and get better.”
