Cardinals QB Kyler Murray reportedly not 'too eager to play this season' without new deal

Headlines detailing alleged drama involving two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals regarding Murray's desire to put pen to paper on a lucrative extension this offseason have all but disappeared ahead of the Memorial Day holiday. There still, however, remain plenty of unanswered questions about the situation this spring. 

As things stand today, Murray is on track to play this fall on the fourth year of his rookie contract after the Cardinals picked up that deal's fifth-year option for 2023. Unsurprisingly, the 24-year-old seemingly still isn't thrilled with that proposal. 

For a piece published Wednesday, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that "the expectation leaguewide is Murray won't be too eager to play this season without a new deal." Fowler continued that "many NFL execs consider Murray in the same QB pantheon as the (Las Vegas) Raiders' Derek Carr, who recently got a $121.4 million extension over three years." 

Fowler added: "Perhaps Murray can get slightly more per year due to age (24 to Carr's 31) and a higher ceiling." 

By all accounts, Fowler's latest update shouldn't concern Arizona fans in the slightest. Both Cardinals general manager Steve Keim and team owner Michael Bidwill made it clear last month that trading Murray isn't on the table, and Murray publicly committed his future to his current employer. Shortly after this year's draft, Keim insisted that "Kyler’s our long-term future, and there’s no doubt we wanna have him here in Arizona." 

The Cardinals have Murray's rights locked down through 2023 and could use the franchise tag beyond that as a "break glass in case of emergency" option. It would, however, likely behoove all involved to sign an extension that benefits both the player and club before regular-season games begin in September.