Just as things appeared to be looking up for the Cardinals and their dissatisfied quarterback Kyler Murray, the former No. 1 pick’s agency reportedly withdrew his contract proposal to the team.
Murray, 24, is unlikely to exercise his fifth-year option and has been attempting to reach an agreement with the team he led to the playoffs in 2021. People are already speculating about possible trade situations, despite the fact that it appears Arizona has every intention of keeping Murray.
If the Cardinals deal with Murray, CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin lists the Falcons as one of ten possible destinations.
Is Murray a good fit for Atlanta?
He would, of course! Murray, who is only 24, was a front-runner for MVP for much of the season. The Cardinals’ final few games were a bit of a letdown, but despite a dismal playoff performance, there’s no reason to believe Murray won’t bounce back.
Marcus Mariota, a competent bridge quarterback with upside, was signed by Arthur Smith, but in this scenario, the Falcons may find their long-term answer at quarterback and avoid having to draft/develop a rookie.
Murray passed for 3,787 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 2021, with a 69.2% completion rate. Last season, the former Oklahoma star rushed for additional 423 yards and five touchdowns.
It’s entertaining to fantasize about the team dealing for a quarterback who doesn’t have a lot of baggage off the field. Due to Matt Ryan’s $40.5 million dead cap charge this season and the team’s need for money to sign its 2022 draft class, it would take some effort on the salary cap.
The Falcons have roughly $3.3 in salary space, according to Over The Cap forecasts, and Murray is projected to make $11.3 million this season, with $5.2 million guaranteed.
Murray’s fifth-year option could still be picked up by the Cardinals, but that doesn’t seem like a smart move if the former No. 1 overall pick doesn’t want to be in Arizona.
However, because the Falcons will have money next season, a trade followed by an extension is still a possibility. This, in my opinion, boils down to Arizona’s unwillingness to move a generational player. And if they do, there will be other clubs in the mix who are more likely to compete than Atlanta.
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Then there’s the fact that the team would have to give up draft capital, which would make it difficult to recruit quality around Murray. Regardless, the Falcons would be foolish not to pursue Murray if he becomes available.
