The Arizona Cardinals are coming off a brutal 3–14 season in 2025, and they’re not patching holes. They’re tearing it down and starting over. By hiring Mike LaFleur as head coach, the franchise signaled a clear reset. If they’re serious about turning the page, that likely means parting ways with Kyler Murray this offseason.
A deal with the Las Vegas Raiders checks out for both teams. Arizona would clear cap space and add valuable draft picks to fuel the rebuild. Meanwhile, Las Vegas would land a dynamic quarterback with upside who could anchor its long-term plans.
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Why the Cardinals Should Move On From Kyler Murray
Money is the real force behind a potential Kyler Murray trade. If Arizona keeps him on the roster past March 15, 2026, his $19.5 million base salary for 2027 becomes fully guaranteed. That decision would commit the franchise to more than $62 million in cash over the next two seasons.
Move him before that deadline, and the picture changes. The Cardinals could clear about $34.7 million in 2026 cap space, even while absorbing roughly $17.9 million in dead money. For a team in transition, that kind of flexibility matters.
Murray’s talent has never been the issue. He flashes top-tier ability, but he hasn’t sustained it. A foot injury cut his 2025 season short after five games, and durability concerns have followed him for years.
He showed what he can be in 2024, finishing ninth in QBR and playing like a top-10 quarterback. Still, his 38-48-1 record, one playoff trip, and uneven play under pressure keep him a step below the elite tier.
Right now, Arizona looks ready to turn the page and start fresh under LaFleur.
Potential Trade Idea
Raiders receive: Kyler Murray
Cardinals receive: 2026 third-round pick, 2027 first-round pick
This deal gives Arizona a future first-rounder and meaningful draft capital while offloading a massive contract.
Why the Las Vegas Raiders Make Sense as a Destination
The Raiders are coming off a 3–14 season and need to reset at quarterback. Kyler Murray would walk in as the most gifted passer on the roster and instantly raise the offense’s ceiling. Pair him with young playmakers like Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty, and the unit suddenly looks far more explosive.
Even if Las Vegas uses the No. 1 overall pick on a rookie quarterback, Murray could start right away as a bridge option or remain the long-term answer if things click.
The franchise heads into the 2026 offseason with over $87 million in cap space, which gives it room to take on Murray’s contract. The team would assume about $36.8 million in guaranteed salary and bonuses for 2026, but few clubs are better positioned to absorb that number without stripping the roster down.
Trading for Murray would also close the book on the Geno Smith experiment after a disappointing 2025 campaign.
Why This Trade Benefits Arizona
If the Cardinals trade Murray before March 15, they wipe a huge cap hit off the books and open real room to reshape the roster. They could funnel that cash into free agency, invest in a new quarterback, or fix a defense that fell apart in 2025.
The real prize here is the 2027 first-round pick. With Murray’s contract and injury track record, plenty of teams would peg his value closer to a Day 3 selection. Pulling a future first out of this deal would count as a serious win.
Arizona could spend that pick on a high-end tackle or edge rusher. Or they could bundle first-rounders and climb the board for a quarterback in what projects to be a stronger 2027 class.
Why This Trade Benefits Las Vegas
For the Raiders, the logic is straightforward: lock in stability at quarterback while still betting on upside. Kyler Murray steps in as a proven dual-threat with elite playmaking instincts. He can raise the floor of a young offense right away and give Klint Kubiak a true focal point to build around.
This move would also open up real options with the No. 1 overall pick. Las Vegas could grab a blue-chip non-quarterback talent, trade down and stack extra assets, or draft a rookie passer without rushing him into the lineup.
Final Take
If the Arizona Cardinals send Kyler Murray to the Las Vegas Raiders, both sides speed up their timelines in different ways. Arizona clears cap space, adds a future first-rounder, and resets the roster for the LaFleur era.
Las Vegas lands a dynamic quarterback still in his prime, someone capable of transforming the offense from day one.
It’s the kind of aggressive swing that can shape the direction of both franchises for years.
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