Murray has a cap number of $52.7 million in 2026. He’s guaranteed $36.8 million regardless of what happens, but if he’s on the team’s roster past the first week of the new league year, which begins March 11, he is guaranteed an extra $20 million going into next season, per Rapoport.
Thus, the Cardinals have a pretty obvious deadline to make a final decision.
If Arizona decides to cut him, the team will accrue $54.7 million in dead money, per Over The Cap. A post-June 1 designation would knock that number down to $47.5 million in dead money. While a trade would greatly diminish Arizona’s dead money number ($17.9 million pre-June 1; $10.7 million post-June 1), Rapoport added that the best-case scenario for Murray is obviously becoming a free agent and choosing his destination.
In that scenario, he could find an ideal landing spot on a cheap contract, much like Russell Wilson signing with the Steelers on a deal for the veteran minimum in 2024 while getting paid handsomely by the Broncos moving on from him.
As for who could replace Murray, Jacoby Brissett essentially did down the stretch in 2025. He stacked stats with ease, throwing for 3,366 yards and 23 touchdowns to eight interceptions, but he also went 1-11. While he’s under contract for 2026, he will be heading into his age-34 season having never been the long-term answer for any of his six NFL clubs. Kedon Slovis is the other QB on the roster.
The Cardinals own the No. 3 overall pick in the upcoming draft and also currently have an estimated $42.2 million in cap space.
There are multiple avenues to landing a new starting quarterback to kick off the LaFleur era, though Arizona appears ready to admit hitting a dead end with Murray in the coming months.