Murray is due $52.7 million in 2026. He is guaranteed $36.8 million regardless of what happens, but if he is on the team’s roster past the first week of the new league year, which begins March 11, he is guaranteed an additional $20 million into next season, according to Rapoport.
Thus, the Cardinals have a fairly obvious deadline to make a final decision.
If Arizona decides to cut him, the team will collect $54.7 million in dead money, per Over The Cap. A designation after June 1 would drop that figure to $47.5 million in dead money. While a trade would significantly reduce Arizona’s dead money ($17.9 million before June 1; $10.7 million after June 1), Rapoport added that the best case scenario for Murray is obviously becoming a free agent and choosing a destination.
In that scenario, he could find an ideal landing spot on a cheap deal, similar to Russell Wilson negotiating a veteran-minimum deal with the Steelers in 2024 while the Broncos get paid handsomely.
As for who could replace Murray, Jacoby Brissett basically caught on in 2025. He racked up stats easily, throwing for 3,366 yards and 23 touchdowns with eight interceptions, but he also went 1-11. While he is under contract through 2026, he will enter his age-34 season and has never been the long-term answer for any of his six NFL teammates. Kedon Slovis is the second QB on the list.
The Cardinals own the No. 3 overall pick in the upcoming draft and also have an estimated $42.2 million in cap space.
There are many ways to land a new starting quarterback to begin the LaFleur season, though Arizona seems willing to admit to an impasse with Murray in the coming months.