Cardinals QB Kyler Murray sees himself going into his prime, and he needs to play at a primetime level

Seven years in, Kyler Murray – who will turn 28 in August – believes he is reaching his prime as an NFL quarterback.

What, Murray was asked Tuesday following the Cardinals’ first minicamp practice, would your prime look like?

“Ring,” Murray said bluntly, before quickly adding, “Ri-ings.”

It wasn’t a prediction. Murray isn’t about that. In fact, when asked about his drive to make the postseason this year, the QB made it clear he was working much more day to day and not giving thought to the playoffs. Since being taken as the No. 1 overall pick in 2019, Murray has never once shied from the idea that the ultimate goal was a championship, and so why would his “prime” objective be different?

The circumstances around him are different, however. The roster is in its best shape since 2021. The defense has been overhauled, the offense building upon itself within the playbook and the personnel. Expectations are higher than they’ve been in a few years.

As the quarterback with six years already with the team, Murray will feel that spotlight hotter than most, not that it should make an impact.

“That would be an external factor to me,” said coach Jonathan Gannon, “and we’re trained not to let external factors dictate how you think or feel or perform.”

Murray has talked about being in that position before and being built to deal with it, dating all the way back to his pee wee days when he played above his age to his starring role in Texas high school football and its “cult-type of following.”

“My Pops groomed me in the sense of when you play this position, this is what it comes with,” Murray said. “I think every quarterback knows that. It comes with it. I just try and stay out of the media as much as possible (and) do the right things.”

The right things are prepping for the football season, which at least at this time of year ends this week. The Cardinals have two more minicamp practices before their break before camp, a notion that Murray called “unfortunate” because the players are just getting into a groove.

There will be some group work between now and camp – Murray said he was looking forward to getting together with the pass catchers again like he did last July – but other than spending a few days with family in Texas, Murray is going to find some way to work out.