NFL
Analyzing Kyler Murray’s contract: Salary and years left with the Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals QB Kyler Murray signed a five-year extension in July 2022. Included in the small print was a ‘homework clause’ which has since been removed.
In July 2022, Cardinals QB Kyler Murray signed a massive contract, making him one of the highest paid in the league (he’s only just outside of the top 10 earners in 2024 on $46.1 million).
But just a few months down the line, Murray suffered a season-ending ACL injury in the Week 14 game against the New England Patriots. He was placed on injured reserve on 14 December 2022 having made 11 appearances, finishing with 2,368 passing yards, 14 passing touchdowns, and 7 interceptions.
After spending most of 2023 in rehabilitation. Murray started the 2023 campaign on the PUP list and was activated to the first team roster in early November.
The Cards (2-4) are third in the NFC West and Murray has played in all of the team’s games so far, racking up 1,186 passing yards, eight passing touchdowns and two interceptions. In the Week 2 game against the Rams, he threw for 266 yards and three touchdowns with a perfect passer rating (158.3).
Now into the third year of his contract, let’s take a look at some of the finer details of the deal, including the ‘homework clause’ addendum which was due to expire in July 2025 but was eliminated by the Cardinals just days after the contract was signed.
Kyler Murray’s deal described as ‘team-friendly’
As then Cardinals general manager Steve Keim explained at the time, the deal included certain aspects that were designed to be beneficial to the team. Murray signed a five-year extension that runs through to 2028. In terms of money, the total package is $230.5 million with $160 million guaranteed.
On that note, it should be said that one of the interesting factors in play is that of the ‘total potentially guaranteed.’ As things stand, only $103.3 million was guaranteed when he signed, meaning the remainder is guaranteed only for injury, but can in fact become fully guaranteed in the years that follow.
Regarding the ‘team-friendly’ aspects of the deal, it’s understood that there is a total of $9.315 million in offseason workout bonuses and $4.25 million ($850,000 per year and $50,000 per game from 2024-2028) in per-games played roster bonuses. Quite simply, the more he participates and plays, the more he gets paid which can only be a good thing for the Cardinals.
Interestingly, the contract actually supersedes the two years that were remaining on his contract, so the total value for seven years is $265.7 million.
What bonuses can Kyler Murray expect to pick up?
According to reports, Murray received a $29.035 million signing bonus. Said bonus will prorates from 2022 to 2026 at $5.807 million per year against the cap. In addition, the QB was also due to receive a $36 million guaranteed option bonus in 2023 that will count another $7.2 million against the cap from 2023 through 2027.
Where his base salary is concerned, it would appear that Murray was guaranteed $965,000 in 2022; $2 million in 2023; $37 million with $35.3 million guaranteed in 2024; $18 million guaranteed at signing for injury in 2025 (fully guaranteed by 2024); $22.835 million in 2026; $19.5 million in 2027 (guaranteed in 2026) and $34 million in 2028.
Yes, there are also offseason roster bonuses which stand at $11.9 million in 2025, $17 million in 2026, $14.185 million in 2027 and $7.7 million in 2028. Regarding 2026, there is a guarantee of $26.8 million for injury at signing with $36.8 million fully guaranteed by 2025.
Curiously, Murray is actually set to earn offseason workout bonuses that are significantly higher than the norm. It was agreed that the 2019 No. 1 overall pick would receive $1 million in 2023 and 2024; $1.8575 million in 2025 and 2026; and $1.8 million in 2027 and 2028. If that wasn’t enough, he will also receive a bonus of $2 million for reporting to training camp in 2028.
What was the ‘homework clause’ and why was it removed?
A mandatory independent study addendum was inserted into Murray’s contract which required the Pro Bowler to “complete at least four hours of independent study each week (excluding any bye week) during each playing season during the term of the contract”.
But the controversial clause was almost immediately removed, with the franchise explaining their reasons in a statement: “After seeing the distraction it created, we removed the addendum from the contract. It was clearly perceived in ways that were never intended. Our confidence in Kyler Murray is as high as it’s ever been and nothing demonstrates our belief in his ability to lead this team more than the commitment reflected in this contract.”
How do things work where Murray’s cap charge is concerned?
Despite initial reports suggesting that Murray’s cap charge would decrease in 2022, that wasn’t the case. Having seen his signing bonus replace the $4.5 million roster bonus, his cap number actually increased from $11.387 million to $12.669 million. It should be said that it included everything from his base salary, to new signing bonus proration as well as the remaining proration of $5.897 million from his rookie contract.
What this means, is that his cap charge in 2023 was $16.007 million, however, it will jump to $51.857 million in 2024. Indeed, the number could increase further should he hit salary escalators in the contract.
As for the later years, the cap figures stand at $45.6 million in 2025, $55.5 million in 2026, $43.5 million in 2027 and $46.35 million in 2028. The aforementioned escalators total a potential $7.5 million from 2024 to 2028 and are all based on performance in the previous season.
Lastly, there are indeed some very helpful bonuses where the team itself is concerned. Consider the $750,000 bonus that Murray will receive for rushing for at least 600 yards and scoring six touchdowns on the ground. Then, there is an additional $750,000 per year for playing 70% of the regular-season snaps and 70% in the NFC Championship Game plus winning the NFC Championship Game itself.