The old saying in the NFL, or sports in general, when it comes to contract situations is “this is the business side of things”. Whenever a big-time player is due for a contract, this phrase is almost guaranteed to be said. While it may not be the case all the time, the business side of things has come really apparent for two quarterbacks: Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray. While both players have contract disputes or negotiations, both are extremely different in how they got there, specifically for the fact that they are not from the same draft class. Let us dive into each player and what to expect from these negotiations moving forward.

Kyler Murray

QB Kyler Murray is gearing up for his fourth season in the NFL (all with the Cardinals), coming off his first playoff appearance in year three. While making the playoffs, Murray had arguably his worst game as a pro, going 19/34 with 137 yards and two interceptions. The Cardinals lost in blowout fashion by a score of 34-11, while the Rams went on to win the Super Bowl. As the offseason went on, it seemed that Murray and his camp wanted an extension as early as March, which is incredibly early for anyone, let alone a player who has left something to be desired at the end of each season of his career. This led to criticism from multiple reports, stating his lack of leadership and maturity is what is keeping him from getting an extension, as well as other aspects, of course. His camp even posted a letter on Instagram in regard to why he deserves an extension. Nonetheless, it is a headache that has been caused and there have been no reports of any deal or negotiations happening at all. 

It has not been reported and we still have a long way to go until the start of the season while being around a month away from training camp. The tides can change quickly, but so far, it does not seem to be heading in that direction. On the field, Murray is as athletically gifted as they come, but struggles down the stretch in seasons have also caused the Cardinals brass to pause on giving him an extension as well. Murray has also missed time due to injury, including missing three games in 2021. Nothing is set and stone obviously, but I would imagine the Cardinals are going to let Murray play out the fourth season of his five eligible years with the fifth being an option, and see where it goes from there. There is no question that Murray is talented and is in one of those spots where it is tough to find someone better. At the same time though, if the Cardinals do not believe he is the guy to lead their squad, the contract situation will only get more difficult.

Lamar Jackson

While due for an extension as well, QB Lamar Jackson is in a completely different situation than Kyler Murray. From what is reported, the Ravens front office and coaching staff raves about Jackson’s leadership qualities and the maturity level he has shown in his four seasons so far. The biggest issue, if it is even that, is that Jackson is the one that wants to play out his fifth-year option and go from there. Usually, the teams are hesitant to sign, but this is a rare vice versa for this specific negotiation. It is well documented that Jackson does not have an agent either, which is unprecedented for recent memory as well. Jackson is taking the rare “betting on himself” route, which you rarely see in the NFL on a player's first contract, especially at the quarterback position. In other sports it has worked, such as Yankees RF Aaron Judge this year, who declined an extension before the start of the season and is now the favorite to win AL MVP through 70-plus games. Regardless, it is something we rarely see from NFL QB’s, and it does not make things easier for the Ravens.

Jackson has been excellent in his career so far, which includes an MVP in his second season, but 2021 left something to be desired. Jackson was injured for the majority of the season but was not at his best when he was on the field either. In the 12 games, he did play, Jackson scored a total of 18 touchdowns and 16 turnovers, leading to a passer rating of 87. I doubt this season will have any impact on what contract the Ravens offer Jackson, but the injuries might make them hesitate into giving him massive amounts of money. It is unprecedented for a “run-first” quarterback to get a big-time contract, but Jackson might be the first, and rightfully so. Outside of this season, Jackson has never been injured and the injury he suffered was a freak injury on a sack, not a big hit in the open field where he is most vulnerable. Jackson has also shown massive improvements in his passing game, which will also better help his case to get a hefty extension. It should be interesting how this plays out. How many teams will be in on Jackson since he will be a free agent? Can Baltimore convince him to sign one before the season starts? Jackson’s play on the field in 2022. will answer almost every question that you need to know.

Stats from profootballreference.com

-By: Richie Dordas

With all the expectations of the NFC West coming into the season, it was expected that all four teams were going to be good. Despite this, most of the predictions ended like this… “The Cardinals will go 8-9 or 9-8”. Here we are, heading into the 7th Sunday of the NFL season, and the Cardinals are 6-0, leading the Rams for the division lead by one game (5-1). Arizona has always had the talent to do it and it seems they are finally putting it all together and have a real chance to make a run at the Super Bowl this year. Let us dive into an analysis of star QB Kyler Murray, how they got here so far, and see how long they can stay undefeated, or dare I say go 17-0.

Kyler Murray

As time has gone on, football has evolved to a sport that for most teams, is dependent on their quarterback. Yes, there are outliers like the Browns and the Titans who use their running game first, but usually, you need a star QB to have a chance to make real noise in the NFL. After moving off QB Josh Rosen, the Cardinals struck gold with QB Kyler Murray. Murray is now in his third year and has emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in football. Through six games, Murray has a league-leading 73.8 CMP % with 17 total TD to just 4 INT. His 116.2 passer rating is third in the league, behind two division foes Matthew Stafford and Russell Wilson. He is also eighth in passing yards with 1,741 yards. With the team at 6-0 and Murray reaching his potential, he is a legitimate MVP candidate over the first six games and looks poised to keep getting better as the season progresses.

Statement Wins

When teams start their season 5 or 6-0, a bunch of times you will hear “they have not beaten anybody yet”. That is not the case for the Cardinals, who have made four statements this year already with wins over the Titans, Rams, Vikings, and Browns. Those three teams have a combined record of 16-9 and all have winning records or are .500. In those four wins, the Cardinals have a point differential of +66 and won by 17 or more points in three of those wins. In the Browns win, they did not have their head coach or top pass rusher Chandler Jones due to COVID and still won in dominating fashion. Another win they had was against a division opponent, the San Francisco 49ers, who were banged up but are always a tall task. Their one win that was not impressive was the Jacksonville Jaguars, who continue to be the bottom feeders of the NFL. They are currently 1-5. People talked about the Steelers 11-0 start being “fake” because of their strength of schedule. The same cannot be said about the 2021 Arizona Cardinals.

Upcoming Schedule

When a team reaches a record like 7-0, everyone starts to turn to look at the schedule to see how far they can go without a loss. If everything goes right, the Cardinals should blow past the lowly Houston Texans in Week 7, whose lone win was against Jacksonville. As of Saturday, the Cardinals are 18-point favorites, which is absurd for a NFL game. After that, the Cardinals have a major test on Thursday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers at home. Despite the tough test, Arizona matches up well against Green Bay with a mobile quarterback and perimeter threats on the outside who can expose an injured defense. The key will be to stop QB Aaron Rodgers in this game from having one of his massive performances where he takes over. If the Cardinals can outlast Green Bay, they go to San Francisco, come home for the Panthers, and head to Seattle before their bye. It is not crazy to think they can handle all three of these teams and rest on their bye week undefeated. If the Cardinals keep clicking and get healthy, they will be a dangerous team when January rolls around and could compete for a Super Bowl.

Schedule info from nfl.com

Stats from profootballreference.com

Writer

-By: Richie Dordas

All offseason, we have heard the noise surrounding star DE J.J. Watt and possible teams he would sign with. We have heard the Bills, the Browns, the Steelers, the Packers, and more. The one team we did not hear was the Arizona Cardinals, the team that Watt has decided to sign with, making his decision via Twitter. It is a signing that nobody saw coming but might be a better move than you would think. Let us look at the details of the deal, why it makes sense, but also why it does not.

Contract Details

Even though being a part of a winning team was a top priority for Watt, another priority was getting paid and that is exactly what he got. Watt has agreed to a two-year/$31M deal with $23M guaranteed, giving him an annual salary of over $15M per year. While he is still good, he is not what he once was, so to be able to draw that type of money is remarkable on Watt’s end, cashing in on his success for a second big contract. 

Why It Makes Sense

While nobody brought up the Cardinals being a viable option for Watt, the deal makes sense for both the player and the team. Arizona is coming off a disappointing season, finishing 8-8 and missing the playoffs. Despite this, the future is still bright in Arizona, led by QB Kyler Murray and head coach Kliff Kingsbury. Because of the bright future, the Cardinals can afford to take a risk and go for it this year, figuring they were that close to making the playoffs before eventually falling out. Watt will also not have all the pressure on him, as star pass rusher Chandler Jones will be lined up on the other side drawing a lot of the attention. The reason why this deal is not as risky is that it is only for two years, so you are not locked into his contract for an extended period of time. It is crazy how the Cardinals were not even mentioned in the talks by analysts and reporters, yet they are still a tremendous fit if the Cardinals play it right.

Too Big of a Risk?

Throughout this whole process, as said before, Arizona was not a team that many people regarded as a favorite for Watt, and that comes with some reasoning. Yes, the future does look bright, but Arizona is still a young team with a coach that has not proven he can win yet. Signing Watt puts a tremendous amount of pressure on Arizona to make the playoffs not only this year, but next year as well while dealing with the loaded NFC West. A failure to make the playoffs this year will likely cost Kingsbury his job, causing a massive change in the locker room, something Watt has seen time and time again with Houston and likely does not want to see again. Watt wanted to sign with a contender, but Arizona has not proved that yet. If Arizona does not make the playoffs or at least have a winning record, this was a waste of a deal and will likely cost numerous people their jobs and cause the Cardinals to start over yet again.

Info from profootballreference.com

Writer

-By: Richie Dordas