Getty Image / Cooper Neill
Things have not gone according to plan for Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals since they agreed to a massive contract extension last offseason.
The team struggled during the 2022 season, posting their worst record since they drafted Murray.
Those struggles coupled with the team’s decision to originally include a “study clause” in that contract have led to some questions about Kyler Murray as the leader of the franchise.
Yesterday, Murray’s Arizona Cardinals teammate Kelvin Beachum was asked about Murray’s leadership and he revealed that he believes Murray still needs to grow up a bit.
Kelvin Beachum says Kyler Murray has all the tools.
"I just think he needs to grow up a little bit." pic.twitter.com/cvIcTiyGVF
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) March 9, 2023
I didn’t say he lacks leadership, I just think he needs to grow up a little bit. I think if he has the ability and willingness to grow up, he’s going to be just fine. They paid him for a reason, they paid him because of his talent. He has the ability to lead. When you’re in that position, we need you to lead more. You’re the face of the franchise . . . you have to lead in every single capacity.
Concerns about Murray’s maturity have been discussed since the team’s playoff loss to the Rams at the end of the 2021 season.
For right now, he doesn’t have much to focus on aside from growing as a teammate and a leader because a knee injury is expected to keep him out for the early part of the 2023 season.
With the team bringing in a 1st-time head coach and 1st-time offensive coordinator, the Arizona Cardinals are going to need leadership from the quarterback position if their offside is going to be a success.
Murray hasn’t shown himself to be that guy yet in his career, but he can make some big changes to the narrative about his NFL career this year.
It looks like one of his teammates at least thinks he’s close, but still has some growing to do as he heads into his 5th season in the NFL.