Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 3, 2023 — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
It remains to be seen who the Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback will be for the 2026 season, but there is a growing belief that it could be a former No. 1 overall pick.
According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, the Arizona Cardinals would like to explore trading quarterback Kyler Murray.
“The Dolphins would like to explore trading Tua Tagovailoa; ditto for the Cardinals and Kyler Murray,” Schefter wrote. “But it remains unclear whether a deal for either quarterback is feasible given the financial hurdles for an acquiring team.”
The Cardinals selected Murray with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, and he showed promise as a rookie, throwing for 3,722 yards and 20 touchdowns while also rushing for 544 yards and four more scores.
Kyler Murray www.allproreels.com — from Washington Football Team at Arizona Cardinals, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona, September 20, 2020
However, Murray has struggled to help put the Cardinals over the top with just a 38-48-1 career starting record in the regular season. He also lost his lone playoff appearance in 2021.
That isn’t to say Murray can’t find success elsewhere, but Schefter details acquiring Murray could be difficult past the compensation in a potential deal.
“Murray already is guaranteed $36.8 million in 2026. On March 15, another $19.5 million of his 2027 base salary becomes guaranteed if Murray is still on Arizona’s roster,” Schefter continued. “Trading Murray would create $34.7 million in cap savings for the Cardinals while leaving behind $17.9 million in dead money, which would seem to be a more attractive alternative if Arizona can find a trade partner.”
Finding a team willing to commit that type of money to a player who has disappointed could be hard to find, but there are several quarterback-needy teams like the Steelers that will have to answer that could be willing to take that risk.
A native of Bedford, Texas, Murray has thrown for 20,460 yards, 121 touchdowns and 60 interceptions in his professional career. He has also rushed for 3,193 yards and 32 more scores.
Mentioned In This Article: Arizona Cardinals Kyler Murray Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers