The Arizona Cardinals can't avoid the discussion any longer.
Kyler Murray's future has taken the spotlight. A trade? A cut? Keep him? It's decision time for the Cardinals after the regular season came to an end on Sunday.
"What is their top offseason priority?" ESPN's Josh Weinfuss wrote on Monday. "Decide what they're going to do with quarterback Kyler Murray. Is it time to part ways, or will the Cardinals try to run it back for another season? The former is more than likely, but that leads to another question: Do the Cardinals just cut him or can they trade him to get at least some compensation?"
MORE: Why Browns' nightmare QB history doomed Kevin Stefanski
Murray's contract is hefty, but not impossible.
His talent also isn't so far off a cliff that the Cardinals are forced to get rid of him. If he was their starting QB in 2026, it wouldn't be the worst outcome possible.
Arizona had shifted to Jacoby Brissett midseason as Murray battled injuries, and the Cardinals ended up not going back to Murray.
He hasn't been the QB the Cardinals thought they were getting as a first overall pick, but he's also had plenty of special moments in the NFL.
The big part of quarterback decisions, of course, is that there are only so many good ones out there. Do you get rid of a decent one and take the risk of not finding another solid one for years?
MORE: Travis Kelce's potential last game before retirement was an absolute bummer
For what it's worth, ESPN's Ben Solak thinks they'll keep Murray.
"The Cardinals will keep Murray. Everyone expects a trade, but his level of play and his contract aren't so bad that the Cardinals need to deal him right away," Solak writes. "If they don't find a solid offer for Murray, keeping him for one more year is very defensible."
No matter what ends up happening, it's clear that Murray watch has arrived.
More NFL news:
- Trevon Diggs got off to a bad start with the Packers
- Packers needed a literal tie-breaker to make the playoffs
- Harrison Smith nearly played QB before his retirement decision
- Myles Garrett's Browns teammate high-fived the ref after record
- Falcons would've gone to the playoffs if not for the New York Jets
- The Colts ran a fake punt on first down