In simply two NFL seasons, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has 7,693 yards, 46 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions, whereas including 1,363 speeding yards and 15 further scores on 226 carries. In NFL historical past, solely 4 different gamers have thrown for five,000 or extra yards and rushed for 1,000 or extra yards by way of their first two seasons: Cam Newton, Russell Wilson, Robert Griffin III, and Josh Allen. 

Cardinals basic supervisor Steve Keim is aware of he has a probably particular participant on his arms, and is aware of how useful it’s that fairly than being paid like top-of-the-line quarterbacks within the NFL, Murray is about to have the 124th-highest cap hit within the league ($9,763,721) through the upcoming 2021 season. 

“With a man like Kyler Murray, the factor that’s so thrilling for me is having the chance to construct round a younger participant, a man you’ll be able to develop with as a corporation and as a roster,” Keim mentioned. “And there are various things you are able to do, particularly with a rookie contract, versus a veteran who’s making a substantial a part of your wage cap.”

As a result of Murray is making lower than $10 million a 12 months, the Cardinals have been ready to herald DeAndre Hopkins (signed to a two-year, $54 million extension) and J.J. Watt (two years, $28 million) in again to again offseasons. That they had sufficient room to commerce for former Raiders middle Rodney Hudson, they usually most likely nonetheless have sufficient room to lavish Chandler Jones with the contract extension he desires and largely deserves. 

These are the advantages of discovering a quarterback who can play at a mean or higher stage whereas nonetheless on his rookie deal. If Murray can take the following step to changing into one thing like a high 10 quarterback, the Cardinals will solely profit much more — a minimum of for the following two years, whereas he’s nonetheless comparatively low-cost in comparison with different high passers. Then, it will come time to construct round a type of bigger veteran offers.