If the Arizona Cardinals decide to move on from Kyler Murray this offseason, the price tag might not be as steep as you'd expect for a former No. 1 overall pick. According to multiple league sources, the asking price could fall somewhere in Day 2 draft territory - think second- or third-round pick.
One NFC source suggested a second-rounder would be enough to get the conversation started, and that Arizona would be willing to deal Murray at that level. Another league insider floated a third-round pick as the benchmark, drawing a comparison to the trade that sent Geno Smith to the Raiders last year. While that source acknowledged Murray is the more talented quarterback, they pointed out Smith had been more consistent in the lead-up to his trade.
There’s still some uncertainty around the Cardinals’ internal timeline. The original plan was to make a decision on Murray within the first two weeks of the offseason.
But with no head coach currently in place - and with whoever fills that role likely to have a say in the team’s quarterback future - the process is still unfolding. General manager Monti Ossenfort and owner Michael Bidwill are also expected to be heavily involved in shaping the direction at QB.
The biggest obstacle to a potential Murray trade? His contract.
The financials are significant. He’s already locked in for $36.8 million guaranteed in 2026, and another $19.5 million becomes guaranteed in March 2027.
Arizona could release him before that March deadline to avoid the latter figure, but doing so would result in a staggering $57 million dead cap hit - a tough pill to swallow for any franchise.
Before head coach Jonathan Gannon was dismissed, it looked like Murray had already taken his final snap in a Cardinals uniform. After suffering a foot sprain in Week 5, Murray was kept on the active roster for several weeks, seemingly nearing a return.
But then the Cardinals made a surprising pivot, naming veteran Jacoby Brissett the starter and placing Murray on injured reserve. He didn’t play another down the rest of the season.
Murray’s journey to this point has been anything but conventional. Drafted No. 1 overall in 2019 by the Cardinals - after previously being selected in the first round of the MLB Draft by the Oakland A’s - he initially signed a four-year rookie deal worth over $35 million, including a hefty signing bonus. Arizona picked up his fifth-year option, projected at $29.7 million for the 2023 season, and then doubled down in 2022 by handing him a five-year, $230.5 million extension with $160 million in guarantees.
In 2025, Murray suited up for just five games. He completed 68.3 percent of his passes, throwing for 962 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions. He added 173 yards and a touchdown on the ground - flashes of the dynamic dual-threat ability that made him such a tantalizing prospect coming out of Oklahoma.
Now, the Cardinals find themselves at a crossroads. With a major financial commitment on the books and a new coaching staff on the horizon, Arizona has to weigh Murray’s upside against his injury history, cap implications, and the direction they want to take the franchise. If they do decide to move him, it won’t be for a king’s ransom - but it might be just enough for another team to take the gamble.