RG3: Cardinals shouldn’t have a problem extending QB Kyler Murray

Should the Arizona Cardinals give quarterback Kyler Murray an extension?

Given Murray is eligible to receive one this offseason, that’s one of the biggest questions surrounding the team this offseason and likely will be until a deal gets done or the signal caller’s rookie contract runs it course.

There has been continued growth from the quarterback, but a disappearing act from the team in the second half of the season for a second consecutive year could be leaving the Cardinals apprehensive in the pulling the trigger just yet. And there’s always cap space to consider with a number of holes Arizona needs to fill this free agency.

Former quarterback and ESPN analyst Robert Griffin III believes there shouldn’t be much concern when it comes down to an extension for the signal caller, even if he recently scrubbed his Instagram of everything outside of a Pro Bowl post and when he won the Heisman.

“I don’t think there should be a problem with locking him up long term,” Griffin III told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta on Thursday. “There’s clearly something going on with Kyler and the Cardinals, but for him, it’s just give him time, continue to give him weapons built around him. When you talk about locking guys up long term you have to ask yourself, ‘Who’s better out there that we can go get?’

“The Cardinals have already done this with Josh Rosen. Is there a guy there that you can get that’s better than Kyler Murray? I don’t think there is right now, unless you’re going to go all in for one year and try to get Aaron Rodgers but I don’t think that’s what they want to do.”

But from one mobile QB to another, Griffin has noticed something when watching Murray.

While Murray is at his best when he utilizes both his arm and his legs, he’s been cognizant of staying out of harm’s way, sometimes to a point that hinders his dynamic style of play.

For Griffin III, who suffered his fair share of injuries over his career, including a severe knee injury, it all boils down to finding a middle ground.

“I would say this for me personally, I needed to do a better job at protecting myself,” Griffin said. “I think Kyler does a great job with that but there is a tough balance of ‘I should make this play or I should say uncle?’ I think that’s kind of maybe what Kyler is dealing with.

“But the end of the day, you have to play the game of football. You can’t play the game of ‘I’m a quarterback, I’m not supposed to run.’ Run, protect yourself, get what you can, get down. … I think right now Kyler’s trying to find that happy medium of ‘Maybe I should run, maybe I should slide, maybe I should get out of bounds.’ That’s just a constant battle when you’re a guy that has such a dynamic trait like he does.”

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