Kyler Murray won't playing quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals until at least Week 14 of the 2025 NFL reason. It's look like Murray won't play for the Cardinals at all anymore in 2026.
Murray (foot) was placed on injured reserve earlier this week, making him eligible to return only after four more games. Jacoby Brissett will remain the starter after playing well and going 1-2 with Murray on the shelf since two weeks before Arizona's Week 8 bye.
It's unclear whether Murray was benched for performance, given the timing of his landing on short-term IR. Although he's expected to be active at some point in December, there's real question if he would come back to start over Brissett again.
That has the Cardinals thinking about breaking up with the QB, their No. 1 overall draft pick in 2019. Arizona officials need make a decision on whether to keep Murray for 2026 and beyond by mid March, right as the new league year begins.
Here's looking at the rest of Murray's current deal and where he might land in 2026 via trade or release.
NFL POWER RANKINGS: Cardinals check in at No. 23
Kyler Murray contract
Murray is on his second, post-rookie contract with the Cardinals. In 2022, he signed a five-year extension for $230.5 million with $160 million guaranteed, putting him under contract through the 2027 season.
Murray already has $36.8 million of his salary guaranteed for 2026. If Murray is sill on the Cardinals come the fifth day of the next league year, March 15, he will lock down another $19.5 million guaranteed from his salary in 2027.
That's the deadline for the Cardinals to move Murray. If he would be released before then, he would cost them $57.7 million in dead money. A trade would lessen that burden to $17.9 million in dead money.
If he would be released with their June 1 cut designation, he would cost them $50.5 million in dead money for 2026 and another $7.2 million in dead money for 2027. If traded for post June 1, the $17.8 million in dead money would be split over two years, $10.7 million in 2026 and $7.1 million in 2027.
The Cardinals cannot afford to outright release Murray in either scenario. A trade is the preferred route, but what teams would be most interested in making such a move for a pricey QB?
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Kyler Murray's best trade fits, landing spots in 2026
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders have seen a rough first season for Geno Smith with his turnovers behind a shaky pass-protecting line. They can get out of his contract with no dead money after a trade and $18.5 million with a release.
Pete Carroll saw Murray drive his Seahawks batty plenty in the NFC West, so keeping him in the desert and moving him to the AFC West would make sense. That would be regardless of whether Chip Kelly remains the offensive coordinator. The Raiders should be investing in line and wide receiver help to boost the young skill foundation of second-year tight end Brock Bowers and rookie running back Ashton Jeanty.
This situation is developing as the best win-win for Murray and a potential suitor. Playing for Bo Jackson's former team in Las Vegas would make a lot more sense than Murray changing sports to baseball and playing for the his rights-holding Athletics in the same city.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers should be prepared that Aaron Rodgers is playing his last NFL season. They could go after Murray for the offense of Arthur Smith under Mike Tomlin to give their own version of a dangerous dual threat to match the Ravens and Lamar Jackson. This would be rather appealing for a Daniel Jones-like career turnaround, much like that 2019 first-round QB has enjoyed with the Colts.
Cleveland Browns
Murray plays in the Cardinals offense of Drew Petzing, a former Browns assistant under Kevin Stefanski, who may or may not stay in Cleveland for another season. One of the hot coaching candidates would be former Cardinals offensive-minded coach Kliff Kingsbury, now the Commanders coordinator for Jayden Daniels. The Browns should think more about a real solution higher in the draft who isn't Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders, but one shouldn't rule out this path.
MORE: Trade deadline winners (Chargers) and losers (Jets)
New York Jets
The Jets are fickle about Justin Fields despite giving him a two-year, $40 million contract in 2025 free agency. They are sticking with starting him for now, but that tune could change if Murray might line up as a potential dual threat QB option.
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers have seen some extra promise from Bryce Young, but they could replace him with another diminutive dashing No. 1 overall QB pick. Coach Dave Canales has been the ultimate QB whisperer, helping change the fates of Smith and Baker Mayfield in his previous stops. In this scenario, Murray can be to the Panthers replacing Young what Jones has become replacing Anthony Richardson on the Colts.