GLENDALE – Rumors and theories about what the future holds for both Kyler Murray and the Cardinals have been circulating. On Super Bowl Sunday, Adam Schefter dropped the kind of note that makes front offices squirm and fan bases spiral, as Arizona has come out and said they would like to explore trading Kyler Murray. People recognize Murray still has what it takes to be a successful QB in the NFL.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray gets wired up on the sidelines during a preseason game against the Raiders at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Aug. 23, 2025. © Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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The Cardinals’ dilemma isn’t about talent, it’s about leverage, timing, and belief. Murray is still just 27, although coming off a season that included injury problems and inconsistency on offense, his time in Arizona might be coming to an end. His chemistry with Trey McBride, who publicly called him “our franchise guy,” wasn’t cosmetic. McBride has slowly become one of the best tight ends in the NFL, and truly believes Murray will be the guy to lead them into the 2026-27 NFL season.
Kyler Murray and his contract creates issues for Cardinals:
But the contract is the metronome. Murray’s $52.7 million cap hit in 2026 looms, with $36.8 million already locked and another $20 million guaranteed after March 11. Cutting him could seem like a nonstarter, as something $54.7 million in dead money isn’t worth it. So Arizona’s realistic options should narrow to two: trade value extraction or recommitment.
Oct 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) looks to throw against the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
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Here’s the strategic play: listen loudly, move quietly. If a QB-needy team offers premium picks, Arizona accelerates its rebuild. If the market blinks, as it often does with big contracts, the Cardinals keep Murray, draft infrastructure, and push chips into continuity. That’s not indecision; that’s process.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) walks off the field after their 23-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 25, 2025. © Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
For Cardinals fans, this matters now because stability breeds belief. Murray gives Arizona competence at the game’s hardest position. Drafting a new QB resets the clock, but also the risk. The cleanest outcome may be the least dramatic: run it back, demand growth in the system, and reassess with clarity, not panic. Arizona should price Murray aggressively, set a March 11 decision gate, and draft for upside regardless. Explore trades, but don’t force one. Leverage optionality, that’s how smart franchises win before the season even starts.
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