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.<\/p>\n
Thus, the Cardinals have a pretty obvious deadline to make a final decision.<\/p>\n
If Arizona decides to cut him, the team will accrue $54.7 million in dead money, per Over The Cap<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n In that scenario, he could find an ideal landing spot on a cheap contract, much like Russell Wilson<\/a> signing with the Steelers on a deal for the veteran minimum in 2024 while getting paid handsomely by the Broncos moving on from him.<\/p>\n As for who could replace Murray, Jacoby Brissett<\/a> 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<\/a> is the other QB on the roster.<\/p>\n