Cardinals intend to pick up fifth-year option for Kyler Murray

The Arizona Cardinals have not enjoyed a quiet offseason since their playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Jan. 17. 

Starting quarterback Kyler Murray scrubbed his social media accounts of any mention of the Cardinals and unfollowed the team in February, and NFL Network's Mike Garafolo (h/t Jeremy Bergman) reported later that month Arizona wants "Murray to take a step forward in a number of areas," specifically regarding his "maturity, body language on the sideline, having a bigger voice with his teammates, and leadership." 

On Monday, Erik Burkhardt, Murray's agent, generated headlines with a statement that essentially put it on the Cardinals to lock the first-overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft down via an extension this spring or summer. Arizona head coach Kliff Kingsbury said on Tuesday that "our long-term goal here is to have Kyler be our quarterback," and general manager Steve Keim added he hasn't spoken to Murray since Burkhardt's statement went public. 

"I think it's an agent doing his job," Keim explained, according to Bergman. "Everybody has different styles. ... You have to understand that people have different ways of approaching things, and I respect that. You can't get caught up in taking things personal. It is a business. You have to be able to separate the business and personal side of it."

As had been expected, Keim said the Cardinals plan to pick up the fifth-year option attached to Murray's rookie contract, a move that wouldn't matter much in the grand scheme of things if the franchise signed the two-time Pro Bowl selection to an extension later this year. Keim also remarked that he doesn't believe the 24-year-old would threaten to sit out any meaningful games if he doesn't receive what he feels to be a deserved contract before Week 1 in September. 

Per Josh Weinfuss of ESPN, Keim refused to say if he felt a need to give Murray an extension before the 2022 campaign. 

"I told you I won't get into that," Keim responded to a question on the subject.