Private texts from Arizona Cardinals owner, GM during Kyler Murray's contract negotiation

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray was part of a closed-door hearing held last summer that involved NFL owners, quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Russell Wilson, the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and more. How do we know this?

Pablo Torre, a reporter who used to work for ESPN, on his podcast “Pablo Torre Finds Out,” revealed he obtained 61 pages of a document the NFL did not want to go public. The hearing was about whether NFL owners were colluding to avoid giving fully guaranteed contracts.

So, what is there to know about how Murray and the Cardinals are involved? Let’s dive in.

Kyler Murray’s contract extension in 2022

It was the 2022 offseason and Murray was due a contract extension after his third NFL season. He had just taken the Cardinals to the playoffs, although they finished the season poorly and were blown out in the first-round game against the LA Rams.

He ended up with a five-year extension, keeping him under contract through 2028, worth $230.5 million with $160 million in guarantees, although $103 million was fully guaranteed at signing.

At the time, it was the most money given to a quarterback and the most guarantees, excluding Deshaun Watson’s fully guaranteed $230 million contract with the Cleveland Browns.

Now this is where the document comes in.

According to it, after Watson got his deal, Murray’s agent, Erik Burhardt communicated to the Cardinals that it was important to him and Murray that he get a fully guaranteed deal like Watson, believing that Murray was both “better and more deserving” than Watson of such a deal.

If we recall, Burkhardt’s “manifesto” in spring 2022 indicated that he had presented a contract offer to the team (reportedly with roughly a $42 million per-year average). With this new information, that was probably a fully guaranteed deal.

That is why the Cardinals didn’t consider it.

Texts between Bidwill and Keim

According to this document, Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill and then-general manager Steve Keim had texts about Murray and about Watson’s contract.

Bidwill texted Keim about a potential extension, noting, “We are going to load up this contract with … so many incentives to earn the real money.”

Keim responded with a shot at the Browns and Watson’s deal. “Why the Browns felt so compelled to pay Watson like that is baffling,” he texted Bidwill.

So, looking at the Murray deal, Bidwill made sure millions of dollars was tied up in incentives — more than $9.3 million in workout bonuses (participating in the offseason program after he held out in 2022) and more than $4 million in per-game roster bonuses. And then, of course, there was the famous study clause that was later taken out.

Bidwill’s texts to other owners

Bidwill was congratulated for the deal with Murray, as it was not full guaranteed.

Los Angeles Chargers owner Dean Spanos texted Bidwill, “Congratulations on signing Kyler Murray.”

Bidwill responded, “Thanks Deno! These QB deals are getting expensive but we limited the fully guaranteed money and have some pretty good language. Thankfully, we have a QB that’s worth paying.”

Spanos followed up with, “Your deal helps us for our QB next year,” referring to quarterback Justin Herbert, who would get a $262.5 million contract extension in 2023. Of that, $193.7 was guaranteed and $133.7 million was fully guaranteed.

Bidwill then responded, showing how the Murray deal would make other owners happy, especially after the Watson deal earlier that year. “I think many teams will be happy with it once they have a chance to review,” he responded. “Cleveland really screwed things up, but I was resolved to keep the guaranteed money relatively ‘low.’”

In conclusion

The collusion accusation was dismissed ultimately, but now what was said is out in the public. This whole issue of full guarantees is becoming an issue again, not for quarterbacks, but now for second-round draft picks.

Of the 32 picks, 30 are unsigned, including Cardinals second-round pick Will Johnson. The two who signed already, linebacker Carson Schwesinger of the Browns and receiver Jayden Higgins of the Houston Texans, both the top two selections in the second round, got fully guaranteed contracts, the first two fully guaranteed contracts for second-rounders ever.

Once again, the Browns are setting precedent. Now the rest of the teams behind the Browns and Texans have to decide where to go next. No. 3 in the second round is safety Nick Emmanwori, selected by the Seattle Seahawks. How far down the round will players get fully guaranteed deals?

Will we see collusive behavior this summer like we have seen with quarterback deals? That is what will be determined in the weeks to come with training camp about a month away.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: What Bidwill, Keim said privately about Kyler Murray’s contract

Private texts from Arizona Cardinals owner, GM during Kyler Murray’s contract negotiation

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