2025 has not been the year for Arizona, as they are three games below .500 and the only team in the NFC West without six wins. They’ve been without Kyler Murray since Week 5, as the quarterback in his seventh year was placed on injured reserve last week with a foot injury.
But if we are being completely honest, the quarterback play has looked much improved under backup Jacoby Brissett, as the offense looks far more fine-tuned with him under center.
The solid play by Brissett and the mediocre play by Murray leading up to his injury could be a talking point in the offseason. Not that Brissett is the quarterback of the future, but the Cardinals should entertain trade offers for Murray.
NFL agent Joel Corry provided insight into what it would take for the Cardinals to avoid cap hits, as well as what they should do to fuel interest from other teams.
"If the Cardinals could find a trade partner comfortable with Murray's existing contract, there would be $15.6 million of 2026 dead money, a salary cap charge for a player no longer on a team's roster. The Cardinals would gain $37.6 million in 2026 cap space by moving Murray. He would be off Arizona's books after 2026 freeing up $41.2 million and $46.5 million of cap space, respectively, in 2027 and 2028," Corry said.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN has already listed teams such as the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, and New York Jets as potential suitors for the 28-year-old dual-threat quarterback. Fowler even threw the Los Angeles Rams into the conversation, as they could be in the market for a new quarterback if Matthew Stafford were to retire.
When Murray is activated from the IR, head coach Jonathan Gannon may be hesitant to insert him back as the team’s starter if Brissett continues to play well. This will make for an interesting remainder of the regular season for Arizona