Jonathan Gannon: 'No Doubt' Kyler Murray Will Be Cardinals' QB1 in 2024 NFL Season

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon has no doubt that Kyler Murray will be the team's No. 1 quarterback for the 2024 NFL season.

Gannon made the remarks on Arizona Sports' Burns & Gambo show Tuesday (h/t Darren Urban for the Cardinals' website).

When asked if he had any idea on who Arizona's quarterback would be in 2024, Gannon chuckled and replied: "No, there is not."

A follow-up then asked if Murray was QB1.

"There is no doubt," Gannon said while chuckling. "'Number 1' is our franchise quarterback."

Since his return from a torn ACL suffered in Dec. 2022, Murray has completed 64.7 percent of his passes for nine touchdowns (five interceptions) and 1,537 yards in seven games. He's also rushed for 211 yards and three more scores.

Murray saved his best performance for New Year's Eve, when he completed 25-of-31 passes for three touchdowns and 232 yards in a 35-31 road win over the 11-win Philadelphia Eagles. He did throw a pick-six, but Arizona was able outgain the defending NFC champs 449-275 thanks in part to his efforts.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft signed a five-year, $230.5 million contract extension in 2022. He has $35,300,000 in guaranteed money coming his way in 2024. Murray is linked to Arizona through 2028, although the team could, in theory, release him later in the contract while taking on dead cap money.

Arizona could also go for a quarterback in the upcoming NFL draft. The Cardinals hold the No. 4 pick right now, and they could use their No. 17 pick (via the Houston Texans) as ammo to move up to go for an elite signal-caller such as USC's Caleb Williams, UNC's Drake Maye or LSU's Jayden Daniels.

But Murray's resurgence from a torn ACL has to bring about positive vibes. The Cardinals started this year 1-8 without him, and one has to wonder whether the team could have been fighting for a playoff spot right now with him aboard all year, or at least in the mix until December.

Ultimately, Gannon has publicly backed Murray as his first year as head coach comes to a close. That certainly holds weight with Gannon joined at the hip with Cardinals general manager Monte Ossenfort, who hired the ex-Eagles defensive coordinator to lead Arizona.

For now, the Cardinals will finish the season on Sunday with a home game against the Seattle Seahawks.