NFL executives rip Cardinals for Kyler Murray decision

Quarterback Kyler Murray was able to sign a team-friendly one-year contract to join the Minnesota Vikings in free agency because the Arizona Cardinals owe him $38M in fully guaranteed money for next season. 

New Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur is currently on track to start either Jacoby Brissett or Gardner Minshew at quarterback this coming September. For a piece published on Friday, Mike Sando of The Athletic spoke with multiple unnamed NFL executives who seemed baffled by how the Cardinals handled Murray.

Cardinals are worse without Kyler Murray? 

"I feel like they could have done a lot of different things, but they chose not to," one executive said about the Cardinals parting ways with Murray. "They just wanted him off the roster, wanted to save the $19.5M (in 2027 salary that would have become fully guaranteed this month). They did not want to mess with it. I don’t know why. They don’t have a good enough roster where that $19.5M really matters."

There's no indication the Cardinals made a strong move to sign Malik Willis before he and the Miami Dolphins agreed to a three-year deal reportedly worth $67.5M. Thus, executives pointed out that Arizona theoretically could have afforded to keep or trade Murray. 

"I don’t know why you would not just keep him on your roster for the whole season and then figure it out next year," a second executive said about the Cardinals' Murray decision. "You could probably trade him straight up off the $19.5M, or if you cut him, then he’s making $1.5M next year with someone else, so it’s an $18M risk. If you can get a third-round pick for him, that is well worth the risk."

Would any team have traded for Kyler Murray? 

The New York Jets may or may not be "tanking" the 2026 season with the 2027 NFL Draft in mind by opening the upcoming campaign with journeyman Geno Smith atop their depth chart. 

"How were the Cardinals not able to trade him to the Jets, eat $35M this year, and then the Jets are on the hook for the $19.5M next year? That is basically two years at $25M," one of the executives added about Murray. "The Jets would not have signed up for that?" 

One February report indicated the Jets may not have signed up for that due to concerns related to Murray's attitude and work ethic. What's done is done, and Murray is now seen by many as the favorite to begin the 2026 season as Minnesota's QB1.