The 2023 NFL offseason is drawing closer by the day, so it’s time to evaluate depth charts and determine what path these teams should take to build out their rosters for the future. One key player for the Arizona Cardinals is Byron Murphy — we’ll review his contract and 2023 market value. Should they re-sign him or let him walk in free agency?
Byron Murphy’s Past Production
Murphy entered the NFL as the first pick of the 2nd round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Arizona selected him due to his ability to get his hands on the football, as evidenced by his six interceptions over two seasons at the University of Washington.
Murphy has experienced some ups and downs over the first four years of his NFL career, but he’s certainly shown flashes of the talent that made him worthy of an early 2nd-round selection in the NFL Draft.
In 2021, Murphy had four interceptions, which was tied for the 5th-most in the NFL. He also had 12 passes defended in a year where he was forced to play a larger role than anticipated with Patrick Peterson leaving for the Minnesota Vikings.
Unfortunately, Murphy’s production has taken a hit this season, with zero interceptions and just four passes defended in nine games. His free agency value will greatly depend on whether or not NFL teams believe that he can get back to playing how he was in 2021 versus 2022.
Byron Murphy’s Contract/Market Value
Murphy is at the end of his rookie contract, which was a 4-year, $7.98mil deal due to his placement in the NFL Draft. At the end of this season, Murphy will be an unrestricted free agent.
Murphy’s market value will be difficult to gauge based on his lack of production in 2022 versus what he did on the field in 2021. A comparable deal could be DJ Reed – formerly of the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks – with what he signed with the Jets this past offseason.
In his two seasons with the Seahawks, Reed totaled four interceptions and had 17 passes defended over 24 total games. He parlayed that production into a three-year, $33 million contract that he signed at age 25. Murphy will also be 25 at the time he enters the free agent market.
Arizona Cardinals Depth Chart
The Cardinals have been relying on Murphy as CB1 this season, with just Marco Wilson, Trayvon Mullen, and Antonio Hamilton as the key depth options behind him.
For 2023 and beyond, Arizona will certainly have to address the position in a major way this offseason. Whether that involves bringing Murphy back on a more expensive deal than what he’s currently on or spending a premium draft pick on a rookie, this will be a position of need for the franchise.
That’s why the initial need for Murphy is there, but a large factor in whether or not he’s offered a contract before he hits the open market is the future of the current Cardinals regime.
Steve Keim and Kliff Kingsbury may not be the ones making the decision on spending significant salary cap space with how often their names are circulating in the current hot seat discussions.
Keim would almost certainly want to bring back his former early draft pick. However, if he’s not there to make that decision – and Arizona decides to head towards a rebuild – the new front office may not be willing to offer Murphy what he’s worth on the open market to stay around.
With all that being said, Arizona cannot afford to lose Murphy and go into the offseason with Marco Wilson as their No. 1 CB on the depth chart. The money will need to be right from Arizona’s standpoint, but Murphy has had enough success in this defense previously to where they’ll bet on that coming back around.