Kyler Murray is one of the highest-paid players in league history after landing an extension that will keep him under contract with the Arizona Cardinals until 2028. Murray agreed to a reported five-year, $230.5 million deal that includes $160 million guaranteed -- making him one of the highest-paid players in football.
The deal will eventually set off a chain reaction of massive extensions coming with Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, and Joe Burrow over the next several months -- as the $46.1 average annual salary set the bar for what's to come at the NFL's most important -- and highest profile -- position.
Where does Murray stack up amongst the richest deals ever handed out in NFL history? Let's take a look at the top-10 deals in total money and average annual value:
Top contracts in total value
| Player | Total Contract Amount | Year Signed |
|---|---|---|
$450 million | 2020 | |
$258 million | 2021 | |
| Kyler Murray | $230.5 million | 2022 |
$230 million | 2022 | |
$160 million | 2022 | |
$160 million | 2021 | |
$150.815 million | 2022 | |
$150 million | 2018 | |
$141 million | 2018 | |
$140 million | 2022 | |
$140 million | 2019 |
Top contracts in average annual value
| Player | Average Annual Value | Total Years | Year Signed |
|---|---|---|---|
Aaron Rodgers | $50,271,667 | 4 | 2022 |
| Kyler Murray | $46.1 million | 5 | 2022 |
| Deshaun Watson | $46 million | 5 | 2022 |
Patrick Mahomes | $45 million | 10 | 2020 |
Josh Allen | $43,005,667 | 6 | 2021 |
| Derek Carr | $40,174,160 | 4 | 2022 |
Dak Prescott | $40 million | 4 | 2021 |
Matthew Stafford | $40 million | 5 | 2022 |
Russell Wilson | $35 million | 2 | 2019 |
$35 million | 1 | 2022 |
Most guaranteed money in contracts
| Player | Guaranteed Money | Year Signed |
|---|---|---|
| Deshaun Watson | $230 million | 2022 |
| Kyler Murray | $160 million | 2022 |
Aaron Rodgers | $150,815,000 | 2022 |
Josh Allen | $150 million | 2021 |
Patrick Mahomes | $141,481,905 | 2020 |
| Matthew Stafford | $130 million | 2022 |
Dak Prescott | $126 million | 2021 |
$110,042,682 | 2019 | |
$107,970,683 | 2019 | |
Russell Wilson | $107 million | 2019 |
$102 million | 2020 |
Murray's deal is game-changing for a quarterback, especially since Lamar Jackson has yet to sign his massive extension. Yet the Cardinals franchise quarterback has some merit for his deal.
Murray has completed 66.9% of his passes for 11,480 yards and 70 touchdowns to 34 interceptions in three seasons with the Cardinals, while rushing for 1,786 yards and 20 touchdowns. Murray and Cam Newton are the only players in NFL history with 10,000 passing yards and 1,500 rushing yards after their first three seasons. He and Newton are also the only players with 10,000 passing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns after their first three seasons.
Murray, Newton and Josh Allen are the only quarterbacks with 20 rushing touchdowns after their first three seasons. His 1,786 rushing yards are the fourth-most by a quarterback after his first three seasons. He's the only quarterback in league history with 70 passing touchdowns and 20 rushing touchdowns after his first three seasons.
The massive extension for Murray was coming, but he's the second highest-paid quarterback in the NFL in terms of average annual value. Murray will have to live up to the deal, similar to the expectations placed upon him as the No. 1 overall pick three years ago.
