Teammate shares warning to NFL about Cardinals' Kyler Murray

Back in March 2023, Arizona Cardinals veteran offensive lineman Kelvin Beachum raised some eyebrows when he said that quarterback Kyler Murray needed "to grow up a little bit" amid Murray's recovery from the serious knee injury he suffered in December 2022.

Beachum is now singing a different tune about Murray heading into the 27-year-old's second season working with head coach Jonathan Gannon and offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.

"I really feel that he’s really starting to master this offense," Beachum said about Murray during a recent conversation with Scott Thompson of Fox News Digital. "I think that’s a beautiful thing when you have a quarterback that’s really mastered the offense. He was coming off the injury last year — new offense, new head coach, new regime. I really feel he’s been able to get to a position of comfort with this particular offense, and comfort with the play-caller and comfort with the receivers, running backs and offensive line."

It was reported in January 2023 that at least one unnamed veteran player with the Cardinals at that time felt it was like the franchise "created a monster" when it signed Murray to a five-year contract extension reportedly worth $230.5M with $160M guaranteed the previous summer. Murray then missed the start of last season while continuing his rehab, and he ultimately went 3-5 across eight starts.

According to Pro Football Reference stats, Murray finished the 2023 regular season ranked 22nd among qualified players with a 47.2 adjusted QBR. He completed 65.7 percent of 268 passes for 1,799 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions, and he also rushed for 244 yards and three scores on 44 attempts.

Some thought this past spring that Arizona could consider grabbing Murray's eventual replacement via the 2024 draft , but the club instead made star wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. the fourth overall pick of the player-selection process.

As of Wednesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Harrison third among the betting favorites at +650 odds to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award for the upcoming season.

"I’ve said this already, man," Beachum remarked about Harrison. "When the ball is in his vicinity, he is making a play. It’s as simple as that."

While individuals within the Cardinals clearly want it known this summer that they're excited about what Murray will become with Harrison serving as his No. 1 target, DraftKings Sportsbook had Arizona at +300 betting odds to make the playoffs this season as of Wednesday morning.

Murray failing to help the 2024 Cardinals qualify for the postseason tournament could result in questions about his long-term future with the organization resurfacing ahead of next year's draft.