Kyler Murray’s agent: Up to Cardinals to prioritize contract extension

If you weren’t sure about the reasoning for reports of a disconnect between Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals this offseason, a letter distributed by his agent on Monday all but confirmed that the quarterback has a contract quarrel with the team.

Erik Burkhardt, who is also Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s agent, issued a letter to the NFL’s top reporters that clarified two points: that Murray wants to be Arizona’s long-term quarterback and seeks a Super Bowl. Those come with one condition.

Murray and his agent said they have “sent a detailed contract proposal to the organization” that aligns with the quarterback market, “lowers his 2022-23 salary cap number” and “most importantly represents a real commitment from the organization to see if their ultimate goals align with his.”

A statement from Cardinals’ QB Kyler Murray’s agent, @ErikBurkhardt: pic.twitter.com/qsWGZIZ0jB

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 28, 2022

The letter further puts the onus on the Cardinals franchise to prioritize a contract extension.

Murray, the 2019 first overall pick, is entering the fourth year of his rookie contract and the team has a fifth-year option that comes with all first-round picks. Because he received a significant amount of cash up front, he is owed only $5.5 million in cash for the 2022 season.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that he does not expect Murray to play for the Cardinals this coming season on that current deal.

However, he’s up for what should be a substantial extension, and that is presumed to have been a reason for his social media scrub and the following reports in the past month of a void between Murray and the team.

“Actions speak louder than words in this volatile business,” a highlighted portion of Burkhardt’s letter reads.

“It is now simply up to the Cardinals to decide if they prioritize their rapidly improving 24-year-old, already 2X Pro Bowl QB, who led the organization from 3 wins before his arrival to 11 wins and their first playoff appearance in 5 years,” the letter continued.

Much of the letter highlights Arizona’s team accomplishments by improving its record in the past three years. It points to the Cardinals’ three-win season in 2018 that allowed the team holding the No. 1 pick to then draft Murray.

Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill on Friday told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta that the team has been in communication with Murray — the owner called the hoopla over Murray’s Instagram scrubbing “interpretation” that didn’t reflect reality — and that he loves the quarterback.

But Bidwill also suggested that the quarterback’s contract situation is, as of last week, not a top priority.

“When you look at it, the window has just opened for a contract extension,” Bidwill said. “Certainly he’s part of our long-term plan. These contracts, especially quarterback contracts, are very complicated so when you look at it, most of the big ones are done further down the road. … We’ve got time but they’re complicated and we also have other priorities.

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