Cardinals' Beachum: Kyler 'needs to grow up a bit'

Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum didn't mince words when asked about where Kyler Murray could take the next step.

"Grow up," Beachum said Wednesday on the "Burns and Gambo" show. "Be a man and grow up."

The 33-year-old tackle does believe Murray has leadership qualities, though the team needs to see more of it.

"He's maturing. It's not a completed process," Beachum added. "I didn't say he lacks leadership, I just think he needs to grow up a little bit. I think if he has the ability and willingness to grow up, he's going to be just fine.

"They paid him for a reason, they paid him because of his talent. He has the ability to lead. It's just when you're in that position, we need you to lead more. You're the face of the franchise, you gotta lead more, you have to lead in every single capacity of leadership. That's what they look for in a franchise quarterback."

But wide receiver Marquise Brown came to Murray's defense Thursday on Twitter, taking a shot at Beachum for publicly criticizing the quarterback on a podcast.

I ain't never seen this much collusion from within , we got each-other number but steady get on podcast or tweet sh!t it'll be different if it was addressed in person first cause 1 ain't never public bash or talk down anybody even after years of runing 4 his lif @KelvinBeachumJr https://t.co/557URty0CL

- Hollywood Brown (@Primetime_jet) March 9, 2023

Beachum, who has spent the last three seasons on the Cardinals and is set to be a free agent later this month, isn't the first to discuss the topic. Former Arizona cornerback Patrick Peterson ripped Murray last year, stating the quarterback doesn't care about anyone but himself.

The Cardinals went in a new direction this offseason, hiring Jonathan Gannon as head coach after firing Kliff Kingsbury, who had been Murray's coach since he entered the league. Gannon said after taking the job that he is optimistic he can take the former No. 1 pick to "another level."

Murray is recovering from a torn ACL that ended his 2022 season prematurely.

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