Budda Baker believes in Kyler Murray. And from the way he talks about the Arizona Cardinals quarterback, you will, too.
Baker, 29, joined the Cardinals two years before Arizona selected Murray as the first overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Budda has watched Kyler throughout the highs and lows of the quarterback’s career.
From what Baker said on the June 26 episode of The Mina Kimes Show, Kyler sounds like he’s on the path to have his best season yet.
Budda Baker praises Kyler Murray’s skills: ’I’ve never seen a quarterback do that’
Baker joined the ESPN correspondent to discuss roster turnover, his decision to re-sign with the Cardinals, and more. During the chat, Kimes asked Baker to weigh in on Murray and share something that people don’t know about the Cardinals quarterback.
“Just the way that he goes about practice,” said Baker. “He practices really hard. He dictates. He tells receivers what to do, how to do it because you can see after each and every play, he’s communicating to his guys. ‘Okay, if you were supposed to sit in that zone, sit in the zone.’”
“He’s kind of been in his bag this whole offseason,” continued Baker, adding that Murray’s been “doing no-look throws and having a great offseason training camp.” Budda said that in the coming season, Kyler’s going to “run a little more, [be] a little outside of the pocket, [and have] inside the pocket throws. He’s kind of doing it all.”
“He’s going to get all his guys the rock,” added Baker.
The praise didn’t stop there. When Kimes asked who Baker thought the most underrated quarterback in the NFL was, Budda picked Kyler Murray. “We haven’t had a lot of national games,” he explained. “People kind of see [Murray] as a short guy, but this guy can make all the throws inside the pocket, outside the pocket—he’s quick. You see it on tape: he’s outrunning everybody all the time.”
“Even in that 49ers Game,” said Baker, referring to the October 6, 2024, matchup where Murray ran 50 yards for a touchdown, pointing towards the endzone once he crossed the line of scrimmage.
“He points up to the touchdown, 40-50 yards away, knowing he was going to score!” said Baker. “I haven’t seen a QB do that!”
Baker said that people underrating Murray is an advantage. “It’s cool to just lay under the weeds and have him be that underrated guy and just kind of show who he is this year and throughout the whole season.”
This would be the season for Kyler Murray to show who he is. Murray signed a contract extension in 2022 that will keep him on the roster through 2028. However, according to The Arizona Republic, the final two years of the deal (2027 and 2028) have zero guaranteed money. The Cardinals could release him “with a minimal cap hit” after the 2026 season.
By virtue of still being on the Cardinals roster as of March 15, 2025, Kyler will get paid $32.8 million for 2026, per Tom Pelissero. “His $22.835 million 2026 base salary and his $10 million March 2026 roster bonus are fully guaranteed,” the NFL analyst posted on X.
Murray will be 30 heading into the 2027 season. The Heisman Trophy winner has spent his entire NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals.