ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss gathered intel from two anonymous league sources. One NFC executive suggested the trade starting point would be a second-round pick. A separate NFL source drew a parallel to Geno Smith’s 2023 trade, arguing Murray’s value might align with a third-round selection, despite Murray’s greater talent.
A trade could appeal to teams that aren’t positioned for the 2026 No. 1 overall pick, particularly given projections that only one quarterback in that draft class might be first-round worthy. In that context, shipping a veteran signal-caller like Murray for a mid-round pick could be attractive to several contenders.
From a financial perspective, Murray carries a $52.6 million cap hit for 2026. Of that amount, $29.6 million becomes fully guaranteed if he’s on a roster on the fifth day of the league year. The timing of any trade matters: moving Murray before June 1 would create a $17.9 million dead cap charge but save about $35.3 million on Arizona’s 2026 salary cap.
If the Cardinals wait to trade Murray after June 1, the dead cap would be $10.7 million in 2026, plus a separate $7.2 million penalty in 2027. Those numbers can significantly influence how a new iteration of the Cardinals’ roster is built around their next head coach.
With Arizona still sorting through coaching choices, Murray’s future remains in flux. The Cardinals could bring him back, or a new coach might prefer to start fresh with a different quarterback. Either way, Murray’s status is very much on the table as the franchise explores its path forward, with the veteran passer turning 29 before the next season.
