One of the biggest questions on the table for the Arizona Cardinals remains the same, and it is what the team will do with quarterback Kyler Murray.
After going down with an injury in Week 5, the team turned to Jacoby Brissett, who seemed to prove the point that the offense could be much better if they had a proper signal-caller. With that, all signs pointed to Murray being done in Arizona.
The Cardinals fired head coach Jonathan Gannon and replaced him with Mike LaFleur. With the hire being out of the way, ESPN indicates that the next big question in search of an answer is Murray.
“Now that Arizona has a new coach in Mike LaFleur, all of the team's focus turns to Murray. Will the Cardinals keep him for at least another season, or will they trade/release him? That question will likely have to be answered by March 16.”
ESPN also mentioned that there will be more questions that lie underneath the elephant in the room, and that is, who will be deciding for the team regarding Murray.
“But another question looms large: Who will decide Murray's future? Will LaFleur have a say on whether Murray is the right fit for his West Coast scheme? Or will owner Michael Bidwill make the decision without LaFleur's input?”
In all likelihood, it won’t be one person in particular making the decision. LaFleur, general manager Monti Ossenfort, and owner Michael Bidwell will all converse on this difficult decision.
With a young roster established, the big thing holding them back from adding is Murray’s contract, as the 28-year-old will see the biggest cap hit on the five-year, $230 million deal he signed in 2022. The Cardinals owe him $52 million for 2026.
We believe Murray will be gone, but it won’t be easy to trade him because of that contract. This question at hand will make for an interesting offseason.