Murray’s release can become official on March 11, and is a divorce that was seen as coming right at the end of the 2024 season, at a point where the feeling in Arizona seemed to shift towards demanding that Murray prove that he is still worth the lucrative contract he signed in 2022. The quarterback did not fall short of that mark once in the 5th injury of the season after just three games.
Murray dealt with injuries of his own in 2025, which led to him being replaced by veteran backup Jacoby Brissett, who had more success under center than Murray. When Arizona opted to continue with Brissett over Murray — using Murray’s foot injury as an explanation — it felt like a soft bench by Murray, who landed on injured reserve in early November and did not return due to ailments.
The first overall pick in the 2019 draft, Murray won Offensive Rookie of the Year, made two Pro Bowls and in the 2021 season led the Cardinals to a wild card under former coach Kliff Kingsbury. Since then, Arizona has struggled, firing coach Jonathan Gannon in January after going 15-36 in three seasons in the desert.
Signs of an impending split emerged at last week’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis when Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort told reporters “every option is on the table for us” at the quarterback position, a statement that was far from a commitment to Murray and his lucrative contract.
Now it’s clear Ossenfort believes it’s in the Cardinals’ best interest to drop Murray’s contract — and his $19.5 million salary that would have been fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the upcoming league year — settle for $54.7 million through 2026 and close the book on Murray’s next hope into their next chapter before moving on.
Murray, meanwhile, will draw interest on the open market from teams looking for experienced starters. The fact that he will only cost them the veteran minimum makes him that much more attractive.