Quick Read
- Arizona Cardinals are exploring trade options or releasing Kyler Murray before March 15.
- A $19.5 million guarantee for Murray’s 2027 salary vests on March 15.
- Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort reportedly hasn’t spoken to Murray since season’s end, despite public statements.
- Concerns about Murray’s mobility and injury history (ACL in 2022, Lisfranc in 2025) are key factors.
- NFL Combine buzz shows executives are split on Murray vs. Tua Tagovailoa, with some still valuing Murray’s playmaking.
INDIANAPOLIS (Azat TV) – The Arizona Cardinals are actively exploring trade options or considering the outright release of quarterback Kyler Murray, as growing frustration within the organization converges with a critical contract deadline. The situation has become a central talking point among executives and coaches at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, with a significant $19.5 million of Murray’s 2027 base salary set to vest on March 15 if he remains on the roster.
Sources close to the team indicate that the Cardinals have grown ‘frustrated’ with Murray, a sentiment underscored by reports from Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports that Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort has not engaged with the quarterback since the end of the last season. This stands in contrast to Ossenfort’s public statements at the Combine regarding ‘good dialogue’ and ‘all options on the table,’ as reported by CBS Sports. Murray’s camp, meanwhile, is reportedly hoping for a release, potentially allowing him to pursue opportunities elsewhere as an unrestricted free agent.
Cardinals’ Growing Frustration and Contract Deadline
The impending March 15 deadline is a pivotal factor in the Cardinals’ deliberations. Murray signed a five-year, $230.5 million extension in 2022, and the activation of the $19.5 million guarantee for 2027 significantly impacts the team’s financial flexibility. If the Cardinals were to release Murray with a post-June 1 designation, they would incur $47.5 million in dead cap this year and $7.2 million next year, while saving $5.1 million in 2026, according to Spotrac data cited by CBS Sports.
This financial pressure, coupled with the organizational frustration, highlights a desire for a clean break. The Cardinals fired head coach Jonathan Gannon after a three-win 2025 season, and his replacement, Mike LaFleur, is reportedly unlikely to coach Murray in Arizona, signaling a potential shift in the team’s long-term quarterback strategy.
Injury Concerns and Performance Dip
A primary concern for the Cardinals revolves around Murray’s durability and the impact of his past injuries on his dual-threat capabilities. Murray suffered a torn ACL in December 2022, and sources told Vacchiano that his mobility, a hallmark of his game, is now considered ‘shot.’ This concern was compounded by a Lisfranc injury in 2025, which limited him to just five games. While he still completed 68.3% of his passes for 962 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions in those games, his average of 192.4 passing yards per game was significantly less efficient than his backup, Jacoby Brissett, who averaged 280.5 yards in 12 starts.
Murray’s injury history and perceived decline in mobility are a stark contrast to his earlier career, when he earned Pro Bowl nods in 2020 and 2021 and led the Cardinals to a playoff berth. While he showed signs of life in 2024, playing a full 17-game season with 3,851 passing yards and 21 touchdowns, the team’s subsequent three-win 2025 season and Murray’s limited play have apparently solidified the team’s desire to move on.
NFL Combine Buzz: Murray’s Market Value
Despite the Cardinals’ internal frustrations and injury concerns, Murray remains a polarizing figure in the quarterback market, as evidenced by discussions at the NFL Combine. Yahoo Sports reported that coaches and executives are split on whether they would prefer Murray or Tua Tagovailoa, who the Dolphins also shut down late in 2025 to avoid triggering further injury guarantees. Two out of three surveyed sources preferred Murray, emphasizing his unique mobility and out-of-structure playmaking ability that continues to stress defenses, even if he has dipped from his athletic peak.
One high-ranking AFC executive described Murray as the ‘quarterback you don’t want to have, and the quarterback you don’t want to face,’ acknowledging the defensive challenges he presents. While durability remains a shared concern for both Murray and Tagovailoa, the former’s ability to create plays outside the pocket is still seen as a valuable asset that could attract suitors in a quarterback market where demand often outstrips supply.
The Arizona Cardinals’ impending decision on Kyler Murray before the March 15 deadline marks a critical juncture for both the franchise and the quarterback, signaling a potential reset for a team looking to rebuild and a fresh start for a player aiming to re-establish his elite status in the NFL.