Arizona Cardinals: NFL Insider Reveals Starting Price For QB Kyler Murray

The NFL offseason is officially upon us, and for Arizona Cardinals fans, it feels like deja vu. Once again, the biggest question looming over the desert is about the quarterback position. But this time, the conversation has shifted from “Will he play?” to “Will he stay?”

Arizona Cardinals Looking To Trade Kyler Murray?

With a new coaching regime on the horizon and the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, the Cardinals are at a major crossroads. The buzz around a potential Kyler Murray trade is growing louder by the day. But trading a former No. 1 overall pick isn’t as simple as swapping trading cards. It’s a complex equation involving salary cap math, injury history, and the scarcity of talented signal-callers.

So, what is the realistic Kyler Murray trade value right now? Let’s dive into the factors that will drive the price up—or down—and what the Cardinals might actually get if they decide to move on.

The Quarterback Market Scarcity Effect

The biggest thing working in Arizona’s favor right now is simple supply and demand. The NFL is a quarterback-driven league, and there are never enough good ones to go around.

Recent news from the college ranks has thrown a wrench into the draft plans for many QB-needy teams. With Oregon quarterback Dante Moore deciding to return to school rather than enter the draft, the pool of elite prospects has shrunk. Outside of Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, who is widely expected to go No. 1 overall, there isn’t another “sure thing” prospect in this class, according to experts like Mel Kiper Jr.

This is massive for the Arizona Cardinals’ offseason plans. Teams that miss out on Mendoza—like the Raiders, Jets, or Giants—will still be desperate for a starter. Desperation drives up prices. When general managers feel the pressure to win, and the draft board looks thin, a proven veteran like Murray suddenly looks a lot more attractive than a second-round rookie project.

Assessing the Price Tag: A Second or Third Round Pick?

If you were hoping for a Russell Wilson-style haul of multiple first-round picks, you might need to lower your expectations. The consensus among NFL insiders suggests that the starting point for Kyler Murray’s trade value is likely a Day 2 pick.

According to reports, NFC sources believe the bidding could start with a second-round pick. Another source compared the situation to the Geno Smith trade, where Seattle sent Smith to Las Vegas for a third-rounder. While Smith was more consistent in his final season with the Seahawks, the source noted that Murray is undeniably the more talented player with a higher ceiling.

Getting a second-round pick for a player who was benched last season and has struggled with injuries might sound underwhelming to some fans who remember his MVP-caliber start in 2021. However, given the context of his contract and recent performance, clearing the books and getting a top-60 pick in return would be a solid win for General Manager Monti Ossenfort.

The Elephant in the Room: The Contract and Injuries

You can’t talk about trading Murray without talking about the money. His contract is gargantuan. He is set to earn nearly $30 million fully guaranteed in the 2026 league year. For an acquiring team, that is a serious financial commitment for a player who has missed significant time over the last three seasons.

Murray’s injury history is the biggest anchor dragging down his trade value. Since his ankle injury in 2021, he has dealt with a torn ACL in 2022 and a foot injury that ended his 2025 campaign after just five games. Availability is the best ability in the NFL, and Murray hasn’t been consistently available.

Furthermore, his play on the field has been a rollercoaster. When he’s on, he’s electric—one of the few players who can beat you with his arm and his legs. But his 2025 season was a struggle, throwing only six touchdowns before injury struck. Teams trading for him are betting that they can unlock the 2020-2021 version of Kyler, rather than the frustrated version we’ve seen lately.

Why a Trade Makes Sense for Arizona

For the Cardinals, this offseason is about finding a direction. The team finished 4-13 two years ago and bounced back to 8-9 in 2024, only to slide again last year. With Jonathan Gannon fired, the new head coach will likely want to pick their own quarterback.

Trading Murray allows the franchise to hit the reset button completely. While they would eat a significant amount of dead money (roughly $17.9 million if traded before June 1), they would also clear over $35 million in cap space. That financial freedom, combined with draft capital, would allow the new staff to build the roster in their own image without the baggage of the previous regime’s decisions.

The Verdict

Ultimately, a trade feels inevitable if the Cardinals can find a partner. The NFL quarterback market is wild, and it only takes one team to fall in love with Murray’s talent to make a deal happen.

If Arizona can secure a second-round pick and offload the majority of that contract, it would be a successful maneuver. It closes the book on a complicated era of Cardinals football and opens the door for a fresh start in the desert.