Speculation regarding quarterback Kyler Murray’s future with the Cardinals began to ramp up in early November, as the effects of the foot injury he suffered in Week 5 lingered longer than expected and afforded backup Jacoby Brissett the opportunity to show he could run the offense more productively. In the wake of head coach Jonathan Gannon’s recent announcement that Murray will not return to the field this season, the rumblings have grown even louder.
As longtime Cardinals beat reporter Josh Weinfuss notes, multiple sources told ESPN colleague Adam Schefter back in November that Arizona will likely part ways with Murray this offseason. One source even went so far as to say such a parting is imminent, and Gannon’s non-answer when asked if Murray would be the club’s QB1 in 2026 supports that notion.
Given the salary cap ramifications of a release versus a trade – even a post June-1 release would result in a dead money charge of $50.6MM in 2026, whereas a trade would create a maximum dead money hit of $17.9MM – a swap appears to be the more likely route. That is especially true since Murray still seems to have at least some trade value.
Several executives told Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports that Murray is far superior to any veteran passer expected to be on the free agent or trade markets this offseason. One AFC general manager was especially bullish, saying, “[w]hen you start comparing him to some of the other guys that might be available, [Murray’s] good is still on a totally different level.”
That GM believes the Cardinals could fetch a third-round pick for Murray, while other execs believed a fourth-round pick was the maximum return Arizona could expect, depending on how much of Murray’s salary the team is willing to eat. Broadly speaking, Robinson suggests the Cardinals will have to absorb some money in order to create a market. A decision will need to be made one way or another by the fifth day of the 2026 league year in March, at which point $19.5MM of Murray’s 2027 pay will become guaranteed.
Interestingly, Weinfuss indicates Brissett, who is under contract through 2027, has played well enough to merit a mid-round pick in a trade. Of course, the Cardinals are going to need a quarterback themselves, and their current draft position – if the season ended today, Arizona would have the No. 8 overall selection – puts them behind a number of other teams that could be looking for a QB (like the Raiders, Browns, Saints, and Jets). Considering the 2026 class of collegiate prospects has seen its stock fall this year, it would come as no surprise if the Cardinals elected to keep at least one of Brissett and Murray.
The Jets and Vikings have already been named as potential Murray suitors if the Cardinals put him on the market.