Cardinals Face Critical Offseason Decision on Quarterback Kyler Murray
TEMPE, Ariz. - The Arizona Cardinals are facing a pivotal decision this offseason regarding the future of quarterback Kyler Murray, with his performance, contract, and the vision of the current coaching staff all factoring into the equation. While Murray recovers from a torn ACL, the team has seen a notable shift in offensive output with veteran Jacoby Brissett at the helm, prompting questions about Murray’s long-term role with the franchise.
Brissett has led the Cardinals to a 1-2 record, averaging 25.7 points and 357 yards per game. In contrast, Murray started five games this season, posting a 2-3 record with averages of 18.8 points and 288 yards. Some league observers believe Brissett is operating the Cardinals’ offense at a higher and more efficient level than Murray.
financial considerations are also central to the decision. Murray is currently guaranteed $36.8 million for 2026, encompassing his base salary and a portion of his roster bonus. A further $19.5 million of his 2027 base salary becomes guaranteed on the fifth day of the new league year in mid-march if he remains on the roster.
Releasing Murray before June 1 woudl result in a $57.7 million dead cap hit. A post-June 1 release would split the dead money into $50.5 million in 2026 and $7.2 million in 2027.Trading Murray would create $35.3 million in cap savings, but would still leave $17.9 million in dead money.
Notably, current General manager Monti Ossenfort and Head Coach Jonathan Gannon were not involved in the initial drafting of murray or the negotiation of his contract extension.
Some around the league speculate Murray could be facing a similar situation to recent quarterback transitions involving Russell Wilson and Daniel Jones, where teams are hesitant to commit long-term financial resources to potentially injury-prone players.
Murray recently expressed hope of remaining with the Cardinals long-term, stating, “I hope I’m here to see [the new training facility],” which is slated to open in 2028. He is currently on Injured Reserve and eligible to return in Week 14 against the Los Angeles Rams on December 7.
Coach Gannon affirmed that placing Murray on IR was a collaborative decision, stating, “He’s fully committed…Right now, what he’s going to concentrate on is getting healthy. He’s not healthy enough to play.He needs to get healthy so he can get back to playing football.”
