The quarterback position is only getting more expensive for the Philadelphia Eagles. Today, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, and the team agreed to a five year, $230 million extension that gives him the second most annual salary in NFL history. At a yearly average of $46.1 million, the Cardinals locked up their quarterback position for the long haul, while also increasing the market size for other teams.
The Eagles could be in that position very soon.
Quarterbacks in contract years have the highest leverage in negotiations over any position in the sport. While Jalen Hurts still has two years left on his rookie contract, he is due for a large extension depending on how he plays next season.
Murray is 22-23-1 as a starter and has only played in one playoff game so far in his career (34-11 drubbing to the Rams). While the numbers surely dictate the former first overall pick is worthy of an extension, paying a quarterback $46 million a year after not winning a playoff game will be sure to raise eyebrows and cause issues for other teams around the league.
Jalen Hurts is in a very similar boat. He’s 9-10 as a starter, he also led his team to the playoffs last season but was humiliated in the first round against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers.
While Hurts does not have the exact skillset as Murray, the Cardinals extension will only muddy the waters more for Jalen Hurts and the Eagles.
The Eagles second round quarterback is entering the most important year of his career. He doesn’t have the normal fifth year option that is awarded to first round selections, and hasn’t blown the roof off by any means as a passer.
With a plethora of talent around him now, the expectations for Jalen Hurts and the Eagles are sky high. Eagle fans, analysts, and front office members have debated for months about what Hurts will need to do to warrant the starting job for the future, as well as a hefty contract extension.
If Jalen Hurts has a big 2022-23 season, he could be next in line to warrant a large extension along the $35-40 million range. With the NFL salary cap increasing due to TV rights contracts, quarterback contracts won’t be as much of an albatross as they’ve been in the past, but it will still chalk up a great deal of the team’s salary.
Kyler Murray’s extension only increases the debate that is going on around Philadelphia about Jalen Hurts. While most would agree Hurts has not earned the money Murray has gotten, a strong season could change most of the city’s tune about their quarterback, and give the Oklahoma product more stability for the future.
Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire
