TEMPE — Reports and speculation have hung over the Arizona Cardinals and quarterback Kyler Murray basically since their season came to an end.
Whether it’s been rumors of frustration coming from both sides or Murray’s desire and his agent’s persistence for a contract extension sooner rather than later, it has not been a quiet offseason to say the least.
But on Thursday, Cardinals general manager Steve Keim cleared the air on where the team stands and if there is a possibility Murray could be traded this offseason with just two words.
“Zero chance,” he said.
Things can change from now until the NFL Draft — Murray’s reported deadline for a new deal to be struck between Murray and the team — but as far as Keim and the organization are concerned, nothing has altered their plans with Murray or the contract extension timeline they are following.
“The way we’ve approached it is we have free agency, we have the draft and then we’ll take a deep breath and sort of refocus,” Keim said. “That’s the same reason that every other player that’s been a third-year QB has been done in the middle of the summer to late summer.
“It’s no different for us. It’s just sort of the way the system works, but nothing has changed in terms of him being our long-term and short-term quarterback.”
Murray enters his fourth year as the team’s starting quarterback after completing a career-high 69.2% of his passes for 3,787 yards and 24 touchdowns to 10 interceptions over 14 games played in 2021.
He also chipped in 423 yards and five touchdowns on 88 rushing attempts.
“I was a decent GM when Carson Palmer was our quarterback,” Keim said. “When he retired, I wasn’t very good.
“I am smart enough to know that Kyler Murray makes me a smarter GM. We took him with the first overall pick. We love him. The guy has continued to improve, he’s made us a better football team, so we’re really excited for his future.”