Arizona Cardinals Expected To Release Kyler Murray This Offseason
The Kyler Murray era in Arizona is over — and it didn’t end with a bang. It ended with a shrug. NFL insider Ian Rapoport dropped the news at the 2026 NFL Combine: Murray is a “likely release” from the Arizona Cardinals, barring a last-minute trade that Rapoport himself would be “a little surprised” to see happen. Where will the veteran QB land?
Why the Cardinals Are Moving On
Murray’s tenure in Arizona was a story of flashes and frustration. He led the Cardinals to their only playoff appearance in a decade. He earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors back in 2019. At his best, he was electric. But “at his best” became harder and harder to find.
An ACL tear in 2022 cost him the first half of 2023. A foot injury in 2025 knocked him out in Week 5, and he never came back. Former Head Coach Jonathan Gannon benched him outright. Jacoby Brissett went from emergency fill-in to full-time starter. Murray and GM Monti Ossenfort reportedly hadn’t spoken since the season ended. That’s not a quarterback controversy. That’s a breakup that already happened.
With new Head Coach Mike LaFleur coming in from the Rams and bringing his own offensive vision to Glendale, the writing wasn’t just on the wall. It was spray-painted in neon.
The Dead Cap Problem Nobody Wanted
A release means the Cardinals eat more than $54 million in dead cap money if they cut Murray before June 1. Even a post-June 1 designation only brings that number down to $47 million. Trading him would have cost a far more manageable $17.9 million on Arizona’s side of the ledger. But with no takers lining up and Rapoport skeptical that a deal gets done, the Cardinals appear ready to just absorb the hit and move on.
Where Does Murray Land Next?
Here’s where things get genuinely interesting. Murray is only 28 years old. He’s talented. He’s healthy enough to play. And now he’s going to come cheap.
The Minnesota Vikings are openly interested. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Minnesota is weighing Murray alongside Geno Smith as they figure out their veteran quarterback situation behind third-year starter J.J. McCarthy. The Vikings need someone who can push McCarthy — or replace him if things go sideways again.
The New York Jets are another name floating around. NBC Sports’ Matthew Berry said he keeps “hearing a decent amount” about Murray potentially landing in New York. The Jets’ quarterback situation after the Justin Fields disaster is unsettled.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are monitoring the situation, with their plans likely hinging on whether Aaron Rodgers rides off into retirement or comes back for one more run in Pittsburgh.
And then there’s the Atlanta Falcons. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio noted that new Falcons Coach Kevin Stefanski has no issue with shorter quarterbacks, and Atlanta has a loaded offensive cast around whoever lines up under center.
A Promising Career That Never Quite Delivered
Murray was the No. 1 overall pick in 2019. He was dazzling. He made plays that shouldn’t have been possible. The 2021 Cardinals season, when Arizona started 7-0 and looked like a legitimate Super Bowl contender, felt like the beginning of something real. It never became that something.
Injuries derailed him. The team around him was inconsistently built. The extension came at the wrong time. The benching was humiliating. And now he’s leaving without even the dignity of a trade, with Arizona paying him tens of millions of dollars to play for someone else.
What Comes Next For Arizona
The Cardinals aren’t exactly starting from scratch. They have Marvin Harrison Jr., Trey McBride, and Michael Wilson on offense. LaFleur has reportedly shown interest in Jimmy Garoppolo as a bridge option. Brissett is also under contract for 2026, giving Arizona at least a warm body while the front office figures out its next move under center.
It’s not an inspiring quarterback room. But it’s a rebuild, and rebuilds rarely are. Murray’s next chapter, though? That part might actually be worth watching. A motivated, healthy, team-friendly Murray chasing redemption on a new roster is the kind of story the NFL was made for.
