After suffering a torn ACL during the second half of the 2023 season, Kyler Murray was looking for a bounce-back campaign last year.
The result: a modest improvement, but still short of expectations. The Cardinals finished 8–9 and missed the playoffs yet again. Murray completed 68.8 percent of his passes for 3,851 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He also added 572 rushing yards and five scores on the ground.
Statistically, it wasn’t a disaster — but entering Year 7, expectations are much higher. Murray is expected to lead Arizona back into contention, with at least a playoff berth as the bar.
In a recent quarterback rankings list by CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin, Murray landed at No. 23 — behind lesser-experienced QBs like J.J. McCarthy and Drake Maye.
“Is Kyler Murray capable of a big leap? The defense looks much improved after they prioritized both experience (Josh Sweat) and upside (Walter Nolen) in the front seven. Still, Jonathan Gannon’s squad isn’t going anywhere if its veteran quarterback, who’s already entering Year 7 in the desert, doesn’t make strides as a consistent passer,” Benjamin wrote.
If Murray can’t deliver that leap, the Cardinals could be forced to make a tough decision next year regarding their former No. 1 overall pick.
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“The Cardinals are deeply tied to Kyler Murray financially for the next two years, so they’ll likely wait until the end of 2026 before doing anything drastic,” Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon wrote. “With that said, lost hope and a trade after another disappointing season is not outside the realm of possibility.”
Murray signed a five-year, $230.5 million extension with the Cardinals in 2022, per Spotrac. Since then, he’s missed 13 games and has gone 6–13 as a starter.
While Arizona has quietly built a reputation as one of the better drafting teams in recent seasons, the spotlight this fall will remain fixed on Murray — and whether or not he can silence the doubters once and for all.