Quarterback Kyler Murray’s new contract extension with the Arizona Cardinals has added language in the deal that voids guaranteed money if he decides to play baseball, per Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro.
Gambadoro adds that the extension does not come with a no-trade clause, meaning Murray wouldn’t have to sign off on any potential trades in the future.
While football has been Murray’s No. 1 since being taken first overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, baseball has remained linked to the signal caller. That’ll happen when you get selected in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Oakland Athletics.
The news of the added contract verbiage comes on the heels of Murray and the Cardinals agreeing on a five-year extension worth a reported $230.5 million. The deal locks Murray up through 2028.
As of Thursday, Murray’s contract extension carries an annual value of $46.1 million, the second-highest yearly average behind only Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers.
Interestingly enough, Murray’s per-year price tag is just $2.4 million short of the entire payroll of the MLB team that drafted him.
In terms of total contract value, Murray is the third-highest paid QB in the NFL, with the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen each having more years and dollars in their respective deals.
Murray is coming off a 2021 campaign that saw him complete 69.2% of his passes for 3,787 yards and 24 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, helping lead Arizona to an 11-6 mark and a playoff berth for the first time since 2015.
He chipped in an additional 423 yards on the ground with five scores on 88 carries.