First On The PUP List, Now Will QB Kyler Murray Be Sidelined By Cardinals For An Entire Season?
Earlier this year, Murray and the Cardinals reached an advantageous $230.5 million five-year contract deal. But Murray will be sidelined for a substantial portion of 2023 as he continues to rehab from an ACL tear he sustained in December, and the Cardinals are coming off a terrible season in which they went 3-14.
First On The PUP List, Now Will QB Kyler Murray Be Sidelined By Cardinals For An Entire Season?
It wouldn’t be unusual for the Cardinals to trade the quarterback they recently acquired with an early draft pick in order to sign a new one.
https://twitter.com/HawksTruth/status/1698137547161862411?s=20
According to Mike Lombardi this week on Pat McAfee’s show, Murray has millions of dollars in injury guarantees that will soon become completely guaranteed. The club cannot escape the financial obligation if a player fails a physical on the day the guarantees convert.
Report: The #Cardinals would owe QB Kyler Murray $37 million in 2024, $29M in 2025 and $26M in 2026 in injury guarantees if he can’t pass a physical before March, per Mike Florio.
Florio suggests the Cardinals might keep Murray on the PUP list throughout the 2023 season to avoid… pic.twitter.com/sdUUbbyXFH
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 3, 2023
In March 2024, the $29.9 million in 2025 compensation he will get is entirely assured. The Cardinals will be liable for his $37 million in 2024 (that’s inescapable at this point) and another $29.9 million in 2025 if he has an injury this season and is unable to pass a medical by March. (Murray has further 2026 injury guarantees worth $26,8 million.)
Kyler Murray weeks 1&2 2021 Season pic.twitter.com/cRGmgkBOtu https://t.co/Ko0yuKy79w
— Bobby Mallett (@BobbyMallett42) August 28, 2023
Murray’s new team might not want to take on roughly $67 million, fully guaranteed, even if a trade after 2023, if that were to happen, would transfer much of the money to a new team. especially if he is unable to pass a March physical.
"Kyler Murray has $56M coming & he has a potential to earn $92M that are only protected by the injury guarantee clause..
My sense is that he won't play this season because the Cardinals can't risk putting him on the field & having him get injured" @mlombardiNFL #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/XygAVDSezD
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 29, 2023
The justification is rather simple. The majority of Murray’s remaining contract value is injury-related insurance. The Cardinals would be liable for all of that money if he has an injury over the course of the next few months that prevents him from passing a physical in March.
Plaxico Burress says Kyler Murray is better than Daniel Jones 🤨 pic.twitter.com/sjyTn8IhQc
— evin (@KayvonOjulari) August 26, 2023
Some have questioned whether the Cardinals are attempting to win this year after some previous decisions they made at the quarterback position. Given that a new head coach has been hired, it would not be absurd to assume that their intention is to choose a quarterback in the next draft and try to replace Murray.
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