Kyler Murray Has Taken Advantage of Fresh Start

Multiple insiders have said Kyler Murray has put the work in ahead of his new opportunity.

ARIZONA -- Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is set to make his debut on Sunday, just 11 months removed from tearing his ACL and meniscus last season. 

Murray's ride since touching down as the No. 1 pick in Arizona has been full of ups and downs. Despite his Offensive Rookie of the Year award on top of multiple Pro Bowls, Murray has found himself as one of the most criticized players in the league. 

The last 18 months have been nothing short of wild with Murray's massive contract, injury and a reset of epic proportions from top to bottom in Arizona. 

Looking ahead, there's still questions around Murray's future with the organization that will only be answered with time - but according to everybody around the facility, Murray's taken advantage of a new opportunity. 

With no Kliff Kingsbury/Steve Keim at the helm, the negative reports emerging on Murray have been reduced to close to nothing. Murray has been commended by members of the front office, coaching staff and by fellow teammates for his level of commitment to not only returning to 100% health, but also his desire to help the organization rise from ground zero. 

It's one thing for praise to be sung while cameras are rolling and microphones are recording, though some of the biggest NFL insiders have echoed the same sentiments:

NFL Media's Ian Rapoport

"It sounds like he's been really engaged, he at least has been doing his best in trying to learn this offense and figure it out before he was on the field. As you mentioned, him being on the field at practice has been positive. I find myself kind of excited to see this. It's a new system, a new team. They do not have a ton of talent, obviously their record is not good. But Kyler Murray is the kind of talent that can transform things. Do they become good when he's at quarterback? ... So much is riding on this, especially if you're a team - let's say in the 2024 offseason who needs a quarterback, you're paying extreme close attention to Kyler Murray."

Video:

From The Insiders on #NFLPlus: The #AZCardinals are expected to start QB Kyler Murray this week, and it means a lot. pic.twitter.com/xIPA803hQd

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 8, 2023

Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz

"Kyler Murray has put his head down, and everything I've been told from Arizona is he's put in the work, he's been extremely dedicated to his rehab and that's why way less than a year out , we're already looking at a guy to come back who had a significant knee injury. This is a great story right now because I think he is going to play this weekend - it tells you that Kyler Murray wants to prove to Jonathan Gannon that he's the quarterback of the future. ... We weren't sure if Kyler was going to play or when he was going to play this season. We're basically halfway through the year, he's ahead of schedule, he has put the work in and now he's in a position to prove to Jonathan Gannon and the Cardinals that, 'I am your quarterback of the future and I can return to that Pro Bowl form that we saw just a few years ago.'"

Video:

On Kyler Murray's impressive return and the strong message it sends to Jonathan Gannon and the entire #AZCardinals organization.

🎥: @BleacherReport @brgridiron pic.twitter.com/vxTfWLiM9W

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) November 7, 2023

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano

Fowler: "Kyler Murray's return sparks a new season for Arizona, which wants to see what it has in the talented thrower. Murray won't have a stellar supporting cast around him, but if he plays well, that gives Arizona flexibility this offseason. A front office with roster deficiency problems could leverage a high pick in a loaded quarterback class for massive capital, should it decide Murray is the guy in 2024. If not, Murray would have trade value, too. This seems like a win-win.

"And it should be noted that Murray was diligent with his rehab over the past nine months and made good-faith efforts to ingratiate himself and get to know teammates better. Maybe all of this leads to something. Either way, the Cardinals will have a busy offseason rebuilding."

Graziano: "To the Murray point, I definitely do not believe the Cardinals have ruled out the possibility he's their quarterback in 2024 and beyond. The coaching staff and front office haven't seen him play since they took over the team, and they want to see him in their system ideally for the rest of the season before deciding what to do. It would be costly to move on from him next offseason -- $48 million in dead money if he were a post-June 1 release, $46 million if they traded him -- but if they decide to pivot to USC's Caleb Williams or another draft pick, that might be a cost they're willing to pay.

"It's no coincidence, by the way, that the Cardinals waited to activate Murray until running back James Conner was eligible to return from IR. A strong running game around Murray, they believe, puts him in the best possible position to succeed and show what he can be. Stay tuned on this. Arizona has not made up its mind about Murray's future."

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Anything is possible when it comes to his future in Arizona, though it's clear he's done things the right way with the new opportunity afforded to him.