Two weeks to the day after selecting Kyler Murray with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday signed their star quarterback to a four-year contract with a team option for a fifth year.
The deal comes one day before Murray is set to take the field for the first time when he and the team’s other first-year players get set to participate in a three-day rookie minicamp at the Cardinals’ Tempe training facility.
Although contract details weren’t immediately available, it’s believed Murray, the former Oklahoma standout and Heisman Trophy winner, agreed to a deal worth nearly $36 million, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The Cardinals team website listed Murray's signing bonus as close to $24 million.
General Manager Steve Keim previously has said that the Cardinals would have language in Murray’s contract that protects the team should the quarterback, who was selected ninth overall last year by the Oakland Athletics, want to leave football and pursue a career in Major League Baseball. Murray has also said he is 100% committed to the NFL and the Cardinals.
“I’m here to play football,” Murray said.
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The Cardinals also announced the signing of five other rookie draft picks — cornerback Byron Murphy (No. 33 overall out of Washington), defensive end Zach Allen (No. 65 out of Boston College), wide receiver KeeSean Johnson (174th from Fresno State), tackle Joshua Miles (No. 248 out of Morgan State) and tight end Caleb Wilson (254th from UCLA, also known as “Mr. Irrelevant” for being picked last in the draft overall).
Arizona has five draft picks who remain unsigned. They are wide receivers Andy Isabella (No. 62 overall out of Massachusetts) and Hakeem Butler (103rd out of Iowa State), safety Deionte Thompson (139th out of Alabama), guard Lamont Gaillard (179th from Georgia) and defensive tackle Michael Dogbe (249th out of Temple).
Murray played in 29 games (17 starters) in his college career, completing 67.4 percent of his passes for 5,406 yards and 50 touchdowns with just 14 interceptions and rushing for 1,478 yards and 13 touchdowns.
With 4,000-plus passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards last season for the Sooners as a junior, Murray joined Clemson’s DeShaun Watson (2015) as the only FBS players in history to pass for at least 4,000 yards and run for an additional 1,000 or more yards. Murray became the first FBS player to average at least 300 passing yards (311.5) and at least 70 rushing yards (71.5) per game for a full season.
Follow the Arizona Republic's Bob McManaman on Twitter @azbobbymac.
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