The Arizona Cardinals and coach Jonathan Gannon gave Murray a vote of no confidence. Murray received a vote no confidence from Jonathan Gannon, the Cardinals’ head coach. Gannon stated in his weekly Arizona Sports Radio 98.7 FM radio interview that Jacoby Brissett was going to start at quarterback for Week 10 against Seattle Seahawks if Murray weren’t suffering from a right ankle sprain. Murray has been out of action since the Week 5 loss to Tennessee Titans. Murray will be eligible to return for the Week 14 game against the Los Angeles Rams. This is scheduled to take place on Saturday, December 7. Murray’s future is the subject of much speculation. Arizona’s offense is better under Brissett even though it doesn’t show up in the win-loss list. The Cardinals have a 1-3 record and average 24.8 points per game. Arizona averaged 18.8 yards and 288.4 points per game, winning two out of Murray’s 5 starts. Murray has only had seven pass plays with a distance of at least 20 yards. Brissett, who has taken 25 less offensive snaps this season than Murray, has produced twice as many pass plays of 20 yards or more. Trey McBride struggled to find the end zone when Murray was in play. With Brissett, he is a threat in the red zone. Brissett is responsible for five out of McBride’s 6 touchdowns from 2025.
Murray is now in his second year of a five-year contract extension worth $230.5million, which he signed back in July 2022. The contract, with an average annual salary of $46.1million, was originally signed for five years. The first overall pick in 2019 is contracted through to the 2028 season. Murray will earn $125,234,860 in the next three years (from 2026 to 2028). Murray will earn $42,542,500 next year, of which $36.8 is guaranteed. Murray’s $22.835million base salary, and $13.965million of his $17million fifth day of league year roster bonus are the guaranteed money. It is due on March 15, 2019. Murray’s 2026 salary is $53,260.677. The final decision will be taken in the off-season. Murray’s loyalty isn’t shared by Gannon or Cardinals General Manager Monti Ossenfort. He signed his contract at the time Kliff Kingsbury was in charge and Steve Keim was also. Murray’s situation will likely reach a boiling point before March 15, next year.The fifth day of 2026’s league year is when Murray’s $19.5 million base salary for 2027 will be fully guaranteed. Murray’s $19.5 million base salary for 2027, which was previously unsecured, is now fully guaranteed. Murray is expected to earn $36.335 on a cap of $41,246,177 in 2027.
Murray’s contract makes it difficult to see him as having significant value in a trade. Murray’s contract contained an unusual “homework clause” that was later removed by the Cardinals. This clause required at least four hours independent study each week during games. Murray’s contract does not contain a no trade clause, unlike most of the NFL’s highest-paid players. In the 2019 NFL Draft, the Cardinals acquired a 2019 second round pick and a 2021 fifth round pick from the Miami Dolphins for the 10th overall selection of 2018, Josh Rosen. Murray was replaced by Rosen. Rosen’s draft capital is likely more than Murray’s because of the three guaranteed years (and an option for a fifth year) that remained on his cost-contained rookie deal.
Kyler Murray no longer Cardinals quarterback? Steelers and Jets are among the possible landing places for Kingsbury reunion
Tyler Sullivan
If the Cardinals were able to find a partner who was comfortable with Murray’s current contract, they would have $15,629354 in dead money for 2026, which is a charge against a team’s salary cap because a player has left their roster. Murray’s trade would give the Cardinals $37,631,323 more in cap space for 2026. After 2026, Murray would no longer be on Arizona’s roster, releasing $41,246,177 in cap space and $46,357 360 in 2027.
Murray will most likely be traded when the Cardinals have to absorb a part of his salary in 2026. Murray would also have to adjust the vesting date of the guarantee for his base salary in 2027. The injury guarantee could still kick in in March, with the $19.5m becoming fully guaranteed either in 2027 on the 5th day of waiver period (5 days after Super Bowl LXI in February 2027), or on the 5th day of 2027 league year in mid-March. By cutting Murray before 2027’s salary guarantee vests, the Cardinals would be left with $52,429354 of dead money. The $52,429,354 would be the second most dead money ever related to an individual player in one league year behind only quarterback Russell Wilson’s $53 million, following his release from the Denver Broncos in March 2024. Murray’s dead-money would be comprised of $36.8 Million in guaranteed 2026 salary and $15.629,354 bonus proration for 2026 and 2027.
Murray’s insurance contract would reduce the bonus proration for 2027 by $2.288,823 due to his right ACL tear in the 2022 season. This is why there will be a modest cap saving of $831.323 instead of a $1.457.500 increase. Murray would no longer be on Arizona’s books in 2027. The Cardinals have enough salary cap to deal with a traditional release of Murray. According to NFLPA, there are $275.5 millions of 2026 cap obligations with 50 players currently under contract. According to NFLPA data, the top 51 salaries (i.e.Salary cap numbers are important for offseason accounting. The Cardinals currently have $15.39 millions of existing cap room that can be carried forward to 2026. If the salary cap in 2026 is increased in a similar way to that of 2025, it should fall between $300 and $305 millions. The Cardinals would pick 11th in the NFL Draft 2026 if today’s season ended. Arizona could find Murray’s replacement in the first round. Brissett, presumably, would act as a “bridge quarterback” for the Cardinals if Murray left. He signed a deal with the Cardinals on March 1st as a free agent. It was a two-year $12.5 million contract, which averaged $6.25 millions per year. Brissett will earn $5.44 on a $7.19 cap in 2026.
Murray might benefit from a change in scenery. Sam Darnold (also a first-round selection), Daniel Jones (also drafted early) and Baker Mayfield (also drafted early) are all thriving for teams in 2025 that did not draft these quarterbacks.
2025-11-12 18:50:19
Discover more from sportscraper.co.uk
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
