In all likelihood, the Cardinals will see quarterback Kyler Murray in a different uniform in 2026, as the team looks for a roster reset after a disappointing 2025 season. A year in which Murray only appeared in five games.
Murray suffered a foot injury during the team’s Week 5 loss to the Tennessee Titans, and that prompted the team to place him on injured reserve. Jacoby Brissett stepped in as the team’s starter, and the way he played led to him remaining in that position for the rest of the season.
Many reports began to surface that the Cardinals would try to move off of Kyler Murray during the offseason, and there is only a single reason for that.
In 2022, the Cardinals signed Murray to a five-year, $230 million contract, which linked him to the team through 2029.
However, with Arizona being uncompetitive in 2025, the contract is starting to look terrible. The biggest cap hit is set to take place next season, with $52 million due to the 28-year-old quarterback.
With only $42 million to work with in 2026, the Cardinals need to find a way to dump this massive salary. The only way to do that would be via trade, and what we’re afraid to say is that it will be hard to move Murray with the contract he’s on. It is completely unattractive.
On top of that, Murray has been injury-plagued and not effective as a quarterback. It will likely mean the Cardinals will need to trade other assets along with Murray to fully “dump his salary.”
The Cardinals aren’t the only team in this situation, as the Miami Dolphins look to trade Tua Tagovailoa, who signed a four-year, $212 million extension in 2024.
These Dolphins could be a team to monitor in these sweepstakes because of this.