Quarterback heading into Year 7 with increased expectations for team

Darren Urban

Seven years in, Kyler Murray who will turn 28 in August believes he is reaching his prime as an NFL quarterback.

What, Murray was asked Tuesday following the Cardinals' first minicamp practice, would your prime look like?

"Ring," Murray said bluntly, before quickly adding, "Ri-ings."

It wasn't a prediction. Murray isn't about that. In fact, when asked about his drive to make the postseason this year, the QB made it clear he was working much more day to day and not giving thought to the playoffs. Since being taken as the No. 1 overall pick in 2019, Murray has never once shied from the idea that the ultimate goal was a championship, and so why would his "prime" objective be different?

The circumstances around him are different, however. The roster is in its best shape since 2021. The defense has been overhauled, the offense building upon itself within the playbook and the personnel. Expectations are higher than they've been in a few years.

As the quarterback with six years already with the team, Murray will feel that spotlight hotter than most, not that it should make an impact.

"That would be an external factor to me," said coach Jonathan Gannon, "and we're trained not to let external factors dictate how you think or feel or perform."

Murray has talked about being in that position before and being built to deal with it, dating all the way back to his pee wee days when he played above his age tohis starring role in Texas high school footballand its "cult-type of following."

"My Pops groomed me in the sense of when you play this position, this is what it comes with," Murray said. "I think every quarterback knows that. It comes with it. I just try and stay out of the media as much as possible (and) do the right things."

The right things are prepping for the football season, which at least at this time of year ends this week. The Cardinals have two more minicamp practices before their break before camp, a notion that Murray called "unfortunate" because the players are just getting into a groove.

There will be some group work between now and camp Murray said he was looking forward to getting together with the pass catchers again like he did last July but other than spending a few days with family in Texas, Murray is going to find some way to work out.

"Two days go by (without a workout), I don't feel right," Murray said. "That's kind of the max for me. I love what I do. You have to listen to your body because you don't want to go too crazy but you have to callus your body. It's a long season with 300-pounds guys I have to be ready for whatever comes during the season."

The biggest change on offense has turned out to be the physical transformation of wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. "The picture, I thought it was AI," Murray joked and Murray himself had suggested pre-draft that the Cardinals would do well to draft defensive tackle Walter Nolen III in the first round, which the organization did.

Murray was asked if the front office making few changes to the offense showed a belief in what was already in place.

"I think we were able to put up points last year but I think there was a lot of things left out there that we as an offense knew could be 10 times better," Murray said. "It's irritating. But looking at the whole team, I think they did the right thing by attacking what they thought was necessary to make the team better."

Belief in Murray hasn't changed. Gannon emphasizes that every time he's asked. Tight end Trey McBride said he has the confidence Murray can throw for as many yards as he wants to. Harrison has raved about the relationship he and Murray have developed.

"He's just a great guy to be around and he knows when to put the serious switch on and when it's time to go to work on the field," Harrison said.

Murray should be primed to be in his prime. How that looks won't be known until the fall.

"We have the guys," Murray said. "We just have to execute."