The Cardinals will explore trades for Kyler Murray this week, however the quarterback’s camp is hoping the team releases him, Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports reports. That might be a best-case scenario for the 28-year-old Murray, who would have the power to choose his next team in free agency.
Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort reportedly has not engaged with Murray because the end of last season. But Murray’s camp will meet with the Cardinals at this week’s Mix in Indianapolis, in response to Vacchiano. It doesn’t appear a choice on Murray’s future will probably be made in Indianapolis, per Vacchiano, but it surely’s hard to assume him lasting for much longer in Arizona.
Because of the five-year, $230.5MM extension former GM Steve Keim gave Murray in 2022, $19.5MM of his 2027 base salary will vest on March 15. A trade or release should occur by then. That’s very true with the Cardinals having grown “frustrated” with Murray, Vacchiano writes.
Questions regarding the previous No. 1 overall pick’s work ethic and leadership proceed to hold over him seven years into his profession. To make matters worse, the Cardinals are concerned that Murray won’t ever fully bounce back from the torn ACL he suffered in December 2022. Murray’s dual-threat capabilities have been a significant a part of his appeal, but a source told Vacchiano that his mobility is “shot.” If true, it could put the kibosh on Murray ever turning back into an efficient starter.
Arizona’s 2022 season had already gone off the rails before Murray’s knee injury, but he wasn’t far faraway from earning original-ballot Pro Bowls nods from 2020-21. The Cardinals clinched their most up-to-date playoff berth in Murray’s second Pro Bowl season. The Rams crushed them within the wild-card round, though, and neither he nor the Cardinals have come back from it.
Arizona lost 13 of Murray’s 19 starts from 2022-23, each 4-13 seasons for the team. There have been at the very least signs of life in 2024. That 12 months, Murray’s lone 17-game season, the 5-foot-10 signal-caller accomplished 68.8% of passes for 3,851 yards (7.1 per attempt), 21 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, a 93.5 passer rating and a career-best 63.4 QBR. As a runner, he racked up 572 yards on a hearty 7.3 per carry and added five more TDs. The Cardinals went 8-9 with a plus-21 point differential.
Whatever progress the Cardinals thought that they had made two seasons ago was erased during a three-win 2025. Murray, who missed 12 games with a Lisfranc injury, didn’t play past Week 5. The Cardinals went on to fireside head coach Jonathan Gannon after the season. His alternative, Mike LaFleur, is unlikely to educate Murray in Arizona.
If Murray gets his wish and the Cardinals release him before March 15, they might tackle a $54.72MM dead money charge and lose over $2MM in cap space in 2026. That might not be final result for the team, but ripping the Band-Aid off then could be higher than designating Murray a post-June 1 cut. In that scenario, the Cardinals would spread $77.25MM in dead money over two years (including $70.05MM in 2026) while losing $17.39MM in space next season.